- Crown of William II
The Crown of William II, also known as the Hohenzollern Crown, is the 1888 crown made for
William II, German Emperor in his role as King ofPrussia . A Crown of the German Empire was never made. It was only used for heraldic purposes.Design
The crown itself contains a large
sapphire , supporting adiamond -studded cross, plus 142 rose-cut diamonds, 18 diamonds and 8 largepearl s. It contained of eight half-arches.After the establishment of the Republic
When William
abdicate d in 1918 he was permitted to retain the family jewels, which included the Hohenzollern crown. To protect it from theft and destruction, during theSecond World War it was hidden in a wall in the crypt of a church. After the war it was returned to theHohenzollern family.It is now kept at the family residence of the Hohenzollern Castle.
External links
* [http://www.distinctlybritish.com/sitemap/pCRM-3188.html The Hohenzollern Crown] photograph
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.