Fantasy Guide to the Coronet
A coronet is what you think of when you think of a crown. But Coronets aren't just worn by royalty but are also used by the nobility to denote rank during their ceremonies. The use of coronets have stopped becoming a regular occurance these days but provide an interesting WorldBuilding tool. Of course, if you're building your own world, you can use whatever symbols, colours and details you like, so don't forget to get creative.
So what's the difference between each one?
The Heir to the Throne
They will have a particular coronet, separate from their siblings. They will wear a half crown wrought of gold sporting single arch from front to back over a velvet cap trimmed with ermine.
Child of a sovereign (Princes and Princesses)
In England, they wear a gold coronet mounted with fleur-de-lis and crosses with no arches over a velvet cap trimmed with ermine.
Child of an heir apparent
A gold coronet mounted with strawberry leaves, crosses and fleur-de-lis over a velvet cap trimmed with ermine.
Child of a son of a sovereign
Their golden coronet consists of crosses and strawberry leaves over a velvet cap trimmed with ermine.
Child of a daughter of a sovereign
A gold coronet of fleur-de-lis and strawberry leaves.
Duke/Duchess
A silver-gilt coronet with eight strawberry leaves over a velvet cap trimmed with ermine. It's chased to look as though there's gems but there's no actual stones in the coronet.
Marquess/Marchioness
A coronet set with four strawberry leaves and four "pearls" (Not pearls but actually silver balls) over a velvet cap trimmed with ermine. These balls are set on points between each leaf. It's chased to look as though there's gems but there's no actual stones in the coronet.
Earl/Countess
A coronet set with eight strawberry leaves and eight "pearls" over a velvet cap trimmed with ermine. These pearls are set on raised points higher than the leaves. It's chased to look as though there's gems but there's no actual stones in the coronet.
Viscount/Viscountess
A coronet set with sixteen joining "pearls" over a velvet cap trimmed with ermine. It's chased to look as though there's gems but there's no actual stones in the coronet.
Baron/Baroness
A plain silver-gilt circlet, with six "pearls" over a velvet cap trimmed with ermine. It isn't chased.
