The coronet of a duke is a golden circlet with eight gold strawberry leaves around it (pointing upwards).
The coronet itself is chased as if in the form of jewels (like a royal crown) but is not actually jewelled.
It has a crimson cap (lined ermine) in real life and a purple one in heraldic representation.
There is a gold-threaded tassel on top.
The number of strawberry leaves and absence of pearls is what distinguishes a ducal coronet from those of other degrees of the peerage.
The ducal coronet has undergone several modifications in form since it was first introduced in 1337.
As now worn, it has eight golden leaves of a conventional type - the "strawberry leaves" so called - set erect upon a circlet of gold, and having their stalks so connected as to form a wreath.
Of late years this coronet has enclosed a cap of rich crimson velvet surmounted by a golden tassel and lined and "guarded" with ermine.
A smaller version, above, was worn by duchesses.
Peeresses' coronets sit on top of the head, rather than around it.
Non-royal dukes represent the highest degree in the hereditary peerage.
First published in April, 2010.
Great series of posts. Do you know anything about the dimensions of these coronets? I know it became envogue for peeresses to “shrink” theirs to fit inside their tiaras, but are their any rules for the standard size for peers?
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