Crowns

The Tudor Crown, often called a "King's Crown" and properly called the Imperial Crown, was introduced by His Majesty King Edward VII in about 1902, and was used until replaced by the St. Edward's Crown after the ascension of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. This type of crown replaced the Victorian Crown on uniform insignia such as cap badges, collar badges, and Rank and Appointment Insignia.

According to the Flags of the World website:

A Colonial Office Circular Dispatch from 14th June 1901 refers to "Drawings showing Imperial Cyphers as selected by His Majesty." and "H.M. desires that the Tudor crown may be substituted for any other pattern now in use, as new articles become necessary." Later that year a Circular Despatch of 16th November directed that, in accordance with instructions from the Admiralty, those flag badges based on the seal should not be changed until the seal had first been changed.

The St. Edward's pattern crown remained in use to the end of the century. There is no convention by which a so-called "King's" or "Queen's" crown is used in uniform insignia, and insignia will not necessarily change to another pattern when the successor to Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne.

Tudor Crown	St. Edward's Crown

Collector's Tip

Several Regiments of the Canadian Army have opted to retain other patterns of crown or coronets in their insignia in place of the "King's Crown" and later the "Queen's Crown"; these should not be confused with the other patterns, as doing so may lead one to misidentify the age of the badge.