How UK royals hid crown jewels from Nazis

Precious stones from Britain's crown jewels were hidden in a biscuit tin and buried at Windsor Castle during World War II, a BBC documentary to be shown on Sunday reveals. Gems, including the Black Prince's Ruby from the Imperial State Crown, were buried under a secret exit from the mediaeval castle used in times of emergency. The operation, intended to ensure the priceless gems did not fall into Nazi hands, was ordered by Queen Elizabeth II's father, King George VI.

The Queenâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088described the crown as 'very unwieldy'. Pics/AFP

It was such a closely-guarded secret that Queen Elizabeth, 91, who spent the 1939-1945 war at Windsor Castle for safety, did not know the details. The details were unearthed by Oliver Urquhart Irvine, the assistant keeper of the Royal Archives. Royal commentator Alastair Bruce told The Times newspaper that an "electric set of letters" from Owen Morshead, the royal librarian, to Queen Mary, King George VI's mother, shed light on the mystery. Morshead's documents describe how a hole was dug in chalk earth and two chambers with steel doors were created.

The crown, made for King George's coronation in 1937, is set with 2,868 diamonds including 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and hundreds of pearls. It also features the Black Prince's Ruby, believed to have been worn by King Henry V in his helmet at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

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