Poetry Thursday - coronation anniversary

This was worn in 1953 by Helen Clark of north London, and is now in the Museum of London -

The print commemorates the Coronation, 60 years ago this week. Here's a closeup showing Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey in the border, and lots of crowns floating around among other bits of pagentry -

The Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, wrote "The Crown" to be read at the anniversary service in Westminster Abbey -

The crown translates a woman to a Queen –
endless gold, circling itself, an O like a well,
fathomless, for the years to drown in – history's bride,
anointed, blessed, for a crowning. One head alone
can know its weight, on throne, in pageantry,
and feel it still, in private space, when it's lifted:
not a hollow thing, but a measuring; no halo,
treasure, but a valuing; decades and duty. Time-gifted,
the crown is old light, journeying from skulls of kings
to living Queen.

                                           Its jewels glow, virtues; loyalty's ruby, blood-deep; sapphire's ice resilience; emerald evergreen;
the shy pearl, humility. My whole life, whether it be long
or short, devoted to your service. Not lightly worn.