The King is said to be taking it easy ahead of the Coronation to avoid his fingers swelling before the ceremony on May 6, according to a source. King Charles’s fingers reportedly swell if he travels or keeps too busy, with officials wanting to make sure the Archbishop of Canterbury can place the Coronation Ring on the fourth finger of his right hand.
A royal source told the MailOnline: “His fingers can swell quite badly, especially if he travels or does too much, and officials don’t want any problems when the Archbishop of Canterbury has to place the Coronation Ring on the fourth finger of his right hand.”
The ring is an integral part of the ceremony, placed on the King’s finger as a symbol of “kingly dignity”.
It is made up of a mixed-cut octagonal sapphire in a gold setting overlaid with four rectangular-cut rubies, butted together in a gold strip setting to form a cross, with a border of fourteen cushion-shaped diamonds on each shoulder, with a gold hoop.
The presentation of the ring will be followed by the anointing with holy oil, and then followed by the crowning itself.
The ring was first made for the coronation of William IV in 1831. Until the 20th century, all new monarchs would have a newly-made ring which was kept as personal jewellery by the sovereign.
William IV left his ring to his widow, Queen Adelaide, who then passed it down to Queen Victoria, along with the consort’s ring.
Queen Victoria left both of these to the Crown in 1901 along with her ring, with all three being deposited in the Tower of London with the other crown jewels by George V in March 1919.
Since then, all sovereigns from Edward VII have used William IV’s ring at their coronations.
READ MORE: Kate ‘wary’ of Meghan and fears pre-Coronation drama – source
Camilla, Queen Consort, will also be presented with a ring during the ceremony.
The ring comprises an extended octagonal mixed-cut ruby in a gold setting, unbacked, within a border of fourteen cushion-shaped brilliants set transparent in silver collets.
The gold shank is set with fourteen mixed-cut rubies.
Both Charles and Camilla will be crowned and receive the rings during the historic event.
