Definition of crown jewels

The term "crown jewels" refers to a collection of historical and decorative artifacts that are associated with a monarch or a royal family. The term originated during the medieval era, when a monarch's power and authority were directly linked to their ownership of valuable possessions, called regalia. These regalia were kept in a special storage area, known as the royal treasury, or the Jewel House, near the monarch's palace or fortress. The most important item in this collection was the crown, which represented the monarch's sovereignty and authority. Other regalia, such as the scepter, orb, and sword, were also kept in this collection, as they played important symbolic roles in royal ceremonies. The term "crown jewels" first appeared in the late 16th century, gradually replacing the term "regalia" to describe this valuable collection. Today, the term "crown jewels" is still commonly used to refer to these historical and cultural artifacts possessed by monarchies around the world. The most famous and well-known collection of crown jewels is that of the British Monarchy, which is housed in the Tower of London.