Blue velvet shows off royal jewels

THE Crown Jewels have gone on display in a dazzling new setting.

The priceless objects are at the heart of a Tower of London exhibition updated to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The historic collection features some of the world’s most famous diamonds and artefacts used at the coronation of a monarch, but all have had their brilliance enhanced by using a trick from the jewellery trade: blue velvet.

They include the Imperial State Crown set with 2,969 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires and 11 emeralds.

The exhibition also features newly commissioned music, film footage of the Queen’s 1953 coronation in colour, and three-dimensional models that visitors can touch.

Sally Dixon-Smith, curator of the collection, said: “The interior of the cases have been lined with blue velvet which really makes the gold sing.

“We wanted the facets to be seen much more on the jewels.”