Cap of Maintenance
Encyclopedia
A Cap of Maintenance is a ceremonial cap
of crimson
velvet
lined with ermine
, which is worn or carried by certain persons as a sign of nobility or special honour. It is worn with the high part to the fore, the tapering tail behind. As such, it is often to be seen depicted in British heraldry
.
A Cap of Maintenance is one of the insignia of the British sovereign
, and is carried directly before the monarch at the State Opening of Parliament
(usually by the Leader of the House of Lords
). For their coronation
, Kings (up to and including George VI
) have usually worn the Cap of Maintenance for the journey to Westminster Abbey
immediately prior to the service. (Queens regnant
have instead tended to wear the George IV State Diadem
.)
In more general terms, the velvet and ermine lining of a crown (or of the coronet
of a peer) is itself sometimes called a 'cap of maintenance', and is technically a separate item to the crown itself. According to the Oxford English Dictionary
a Cap of Maintenance was granted by the Pope
to both Henry VII
and Henry VIII
as a mark of special privilege.
The origin of this symbol of dignity is obscure. It may have had a purely practical origin being used to help a crown fit more firmly or to protect the head from bare metal on the crown. It is probably connected with the cap of estate or dignity, sometimes also styled Cap of Maintenance, similar in appearance to the above but with two peaks or horns behind, which is borne as a heraldic charge
by certain families. (This seems originally to have been a privilege of duke
s. Where it is used the crest is placed upon it, instead of on the usual wreath.)
A Cap of Maintenance of a different design is worn by the Swordbearer of the Lord Mayor of the City of London. Certain other Lord Mayors also have this privilege (namely those of York, Bristol, Coventry, Lincoln, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Worcester, Hereford, Exeter and Hull). (Early charters granting the right to use of a ceremonial sword often mentioned the right to a Cap of Maintenance in addition.) In the City of York
, the original medieval Cap of Maintenance is kept and displayed in the Mansion House of the Lord Mayor of the City. It was given to the sheriff of York by King Richard III, who was of the York dynasty. It is still used on special civic or ecclesiastical occasions, such as the celebrations in 1996 marking six hundred years of the royal charter giving its Freedom to the City of York.
Cap
A cap is a form of headgear. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head and have no brim or only a visor. They are typically designed for warmth and, when including a visor, blocking sunlight from the eyes...
of crimson
Crimson
Crimson is a strong, bright, deep red color. It is originally the color of the dye produced from a scale insect, Kermes vermilio, but the name is now also used as a generic term for those slightly bluish-red colors that are between red and rose; besides crimson itself, these colors include...
velvet
Velvet
Velvet is a type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are evenly distributed,with a short dense pile, giving it a distinctive feel.The word 'velvety' is used as an adjective to mean -"smooth like velvet".-Composition:...
lined with ermine
Stoat
The stoat , also known as the ermine or short-tailed weasel, is a species of Mustelid native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip...
, which is worn or carried by certain persons as a sign of nobility or special honour. It is worn with the high part to the fore, the tapering tail behind. As such, it is often to be seen depicted in British heraldry
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
.
A Cap of Maintenance is one of the insignia of the British sovereign
British monarchy
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
, and is carried directly before the monarch at the State Opening of Parliament
State Opening of Parliament
In the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an annual event that marks the commencement of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is held in the House of Lords Chamber, usually in November or December or, in a general election year, when the new Parliament first assembles...
(usually by the Leader of the House of Lords
Leader of the House of Lords
The Leader of the House of Lords is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Lords. The role is always held in combination with a formal Cabinet position, usually one of the sinecure offices of Lord President of the Council,...
). For their coronation
Coronation of the British monarch
The coronation of the British monarch is a ceremony in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia...
, Kings (up to and including George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
) have usually worn the Cap of Maintenance for the journey to Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
immediately prior to the service. (Queens regnant
Queen regnant
A queen regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right, in contrast to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king. An empress regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right over an empire....
have instead tended to wear the George IV State Diadem
George IV State Diadem
Part of the British Crown Jewels, the George IV State Diadem or Diamond Diadem was made in 1820 by the firm Rundell, Bridge and Rundell for the coronation of King George IV. It was designed to encircle the King's velvet Cap of Estate that he wore in the procession to Westminster Abbey. The diadem...
.)
In more general terms, the velvet and ermine lining of a crown (or of the coronet
Coronet
A coronet is a small crown consisting of ornaments fixed on a metal ring. Unlike a crown, a coronet never has arches.The word stems from the Old French coronete, a diminutive of coronne , itself from the Latin corona .Traditionally, such headgear is – as indicated by the German equivalent...
of a peer) is itself sometimes called a 'cap of maintenance', and is technically a separate item to the crown itself. According to the Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
a Cap of Maintenance was granted by the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
to both Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
and Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
as a mark of special privilege.
The origin of this symbol of dignity is obscure. It may have had a purely practical origin being used to help a crown fit more firmly or to protect the head from bare metal on the crown. It is probably connected with the cap of estate or dignity, sometimes also styled Cap of Maintenance, similar in appearance to the above but with two peaks or horns behind, which is borne as a heraldic charge
Charge (heraldry)
In heraldry, a charge is any emblem or device occupying the field of an escutcheon . This may be a geometric design or a symbolic representation of a person, animal, plant, object or other device...
by certain families. (This seems originally to have been a privilege of duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
s. Where it is used the crest is placed upon it, instead of on the usual wreath.)
A Cap of Maintenance of a different design is worn by the Swordbearer of the Lord Mayor of the City of London. Certain other Lord Mayors also have this privilege (namely those of York, Bristol, Coventry, Lincoln, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Worcester, Hereford, Exeter and Hull). (Early charters granting the right to use of a ceremonial sword often mentioned the right to a Cap of Maintenance in addition.) In the City of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, the original medieval Cap of Maintenance is kept and displayed in the Mansion House of the Lord Mayor of the City. It was given to the sheriff of York by King Richard III, who was of the York dynasty. It is still used on special civic or ecclesiastical occasions, such as the celebrations in 1996 marking six hundred years of the royal charter giving its Freedom to the City of York.
External links
- The Crown, Cap and Sword get their own coach on a trip to the Palace of WestminsterPalace of WestminsterThe Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
. - The Cap of Maintenance and the Sword of StateSword of StateA sword of state is a sword, used as part of the regalia, symbolizing the power of a monarch to use the might of the state against its enemies, and their duty to preserve thus right and peace.It is known to be used in following monarchies:...
are carried before the Queen in the procession of the State Opening of ParliamentState Opening of ParliamentIn the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an annual event that marks the commencement of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is held in the House of Lords Chamber, usually in November or December or, in a general election year, when the new Parliament first assembles...
. - https://stagingthehenriciancourt.brookes.ac.uk/resources/misc/henry_viii_buckingham_web_large.jpg Illustration of Cap of Maintenance being borne before Henry VIII in procession to Parliament, 1512.
