It doesn’t get more quintessentially British than a chauffeur-driven visit to the Crown Jewels, followed by afternoon tea and a gemmology masterclass at heritage jewellers Garrard. When you book in at The Peninsula London, this is just one of the unforgettable experiences on offer.
Words by Juliet Herd
Gliding through the streets of London in a Rolls-Royce Phantom, the first thing you notice is the silence. Almost no outside noise penetrates the triple-glazed windows of our luxury wheels.
We’re headed to the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels, and what better way to travel than in such decadent – dare we say it – regal style?
It’s all part of a Peninsula Academy programme created by The Peninsula London to offer guests unforgettable cultural, historical and creative experiences during their stay. Our excursion couldn’t be more quintessentially British: a special Crown Jewels guided tour, followed by afternoon tea and a private gemmology masterclass at the opulent hotel’s in-house Garrard boutique.
Assembling in the cobbled courtyard of The Peninsula, we jump in a chauffeur-driven “Peninsula Green” Rolls-Royce, part of a fleet of 13 customised vehicles at guests’ disposal. On arrival at the Tower, we’re greeted by an Historic Royal Palaces guide, who ushers us past the queues and into the dimly lit Jewel House, where some of the world’s most famous gems are on display.
It’s like entering an Aladdin’s Cave, filled with such celebrated pieces as the legendary Koh-i-Noor diamond, set in the crown worn by the late Queen Mother, and the Black Prince’s Ruby, nestled in the Imperial State Crown.
The room’s relative darkness only serves to enhance the natural sparkle of these extraordinary jewels, guarded in the historic fortress since 1661 and part of a unique working collection of royal regalia still regularly used by the monarch for ceremonies such as the State Opening of Parliament.
At the heart of the collection are the coronation regalia, the sacred objects used during the coronation ceremony, denoting the powers and responsibilities of the monarch. It’s quite something to see up-close the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross, which contains the world’s largest colourless cut diamond, the Sovereign’s Orb and the Coronation Spoon – all most recently used at the 2023 Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Our guide points out the Imperial State Crown and Queen Mary’s Crown, originally made by Garrard, the Royal Family’s first Crown Jeweller, in 1911, and subsequently modified for Queen Camilla.
Reunited with our waiting drivers, we are whisked back to The Peninsula for the second part of our immersive itinerary, kicking off with the hotel’s signature champagne afternoon tea at the stylish Garrard boutique. One of the highlights is being shown archival replicas of three royal tiaras, including the Lovers Knot Tiara, worn by both Princess Diana and Catherine, Princess of Wales. We learn that the pretty Fringe Tiara, donned by the late Queen for her wedding in 1947 to Prince Philip, snapped in two while being fitted by her hairdresser on the morning of the big day itself. At the Queen’s insistence, the tiara was rushed – with a police escort, no less – to the Garrard workshop, where it was repaired and returned to the palace within two hours. The tiara was most recently worn by Princess Beatrice at her wedding in 2020.
During our class with master gemmologist Sarah Radcliffe, we are shown how to use a small magnifying glass known as a “loupe”, which she describes as her profession’s “best friend”, and which is used to examine gemstones for fractures, inclusions and colour variations.
The study of inclusions, she tells us, is “one of the most thrilling aspects” of learning gemmology because of how it can reveal the origin of a stone, both geographically and geologically.
“Natural imperfections or inclusions are like the fingerprint of the gem, telling the story of how it formed deep within the earth,” explains Sarah. “The types of inclusions found in gemstones, whether they’re ‘whisps’ or ‘feathers’ in diamonds or distinctive shapes like ‘water lilies’ in peridots and ‘horse tails’ in demantoid garnets, can offer valuable clues about the stone’s origins.”
Sapphires are synonymous with Garrard, continues Sarah, who adds that they have featured in some of the British heritage jeweller’s most notable creations over its 290-year history, including Princess Diana’s famous sapphire cluster engagement ring and a sapphire cluster brooch that Prince Albert commissioned for Queen Victoria to wear on their wedding day. It was in 1843 that Queen Victoria appointed Garrard as the first ever official Crown Jewellers, a position the house held until 2007, responsible for creating many of the Royal Family’s most significant jewels during that tenure. It still holds a Royal Warrant from King Charles, bequeathed while he was Prince of Wales.
“Every stone has the potential to surprise. There’s an indescribable joy in discovering the unique qualities of a gemstone, whether it’s an inclusion or an unexpected burst of natural colour,” enthuses Sarah, concluding our memorable private session.
Other Peninsula Academy curated experiences include a Children’s Adventure Quest in partnership with Sharky and George, an automotive experience in conjunction with Brooklands Museum, and a rare opportunity to sit for Royal portraitist Ralph Heimans.
The Crown Jewels and Gemmology Academy, available for a maximum of three per session at £605 per person.