A Cap of Maintenance is a ceremonial crimson velvet cap, lined with ermine. Velvet is a type of tufted fabric in which the cut threads are very evenly distributed, with a short dense pile, giving it its distinct feel. ... The ermine (Mustela erminea) is a dark brown weasel, with a distinctive black-tipped tail. ...

It is borne, as one of the insignia of the British sovereign, immediately before him or her at coronation or on such state occasions as the State Opening of Parliament. It is carried by the hereditary bearer, the Marquess of Winchester, upon a white wand. This article describes the British monarchy from the perspective of the United Kingdom. ... A coronation is a ceremony in which a monarch is adorned with a coronation crown as a symbol of monarchy. ... Sergeant-at-arms Gus Cloutier holding the ceremonial mace to open a sitting of the 38th Canadian parliament with Prime Minister Paul Martin in background (10/4/04) In the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an annual event held usually in October or November that marks the... The title Marquess of Winchester was created in 1551 in the Peerage of England, making it the oldest English (and British) Marquessate still in existence. ...

A similar cap is also borne before the Lord Mayor of London and mayors of other cities. Michael Berry Savory. ...

The origin of this symbol of dignity is obscure. It may have had a purely practical origin being used to help a crown fit more firmly or to protect the head from bare metal on the crown.

It is stated in the Oxford English Dictionary that it was granted by the Pope to Henry VII and Henry VIII. It is probably connected with the cap of estate or dignity, sometimes also styled Cap of Maintenance, similar to the royal symbol with two peaks or horns behind, which is borne as a heraldic charge by certain families. It seems originally to have been a privilege of dukes. Where it is used the crest is placed upon it, instead of on the usual wreath. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a comprehensive dictionary published by the Oxford University Press (OUP). ... The pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and leader of the Catholic Church. ... Henry VII (January 28, 1457 – April 21, 1509), King of England, Lord of Ireland (August 22, 1485 – April 21, 1509), was the founder of the Tudor dynasty. ... Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) from 22 April 1509 until his death. ... Heraldry is the science and art of describing coats-of-arms, also referred to as achievements or armorial bearings. ... The term duke is a title of nobility which refers to the sovereign male ruler of a Continental European duchy, to a nobleman of the highest grade of the British peerage, or to the highest rank of nobility in various other European countries, including Portugal, Spain and France (in Italy...

References

• This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, which is in the public domain.

Supporters contend that the Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1910-1911) represents the sum of human knowledge at the beginning of the 20th century; indeed, it was advertised as such. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...

External link

• The crown, cap and sword get their own coach on a trip to the Palace of Westminster