The Cross of Wales Crafted from Royal Mint Silver

The Cross of Wales, which was presented by His Majesty King Charles III as a centenary gift to the Church of Wales, led the coronation procession at Westminster Abbey on 6 May. Designed by acclaimed master silversmith Michael Lloyd, in consultation with the Royal Collection, the cross was created using recycled silver bullion, part of which has been gifted by The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, South Wales. Sustainability is at the heart of all we do at The Royal Mint and, as the home of precious metals, we are honoured to be a part of this historic commission. The processional cross also includes other sustainable Welsh materials such as reclaimed wood and slate.

At its centre, the cross incorporates a relic of the True Cross, which was gifted to The King by Pope Francis to mark the coronation. Words from St David’s last sermon are inscribed in Welsh on the back of the cross: ‘Byddwch lawen. Cadwch y ffydd. Gwnewch y pethau bychain ’ (‘Be joyful. Keep the faith. Do the small things’).

The King, as Prince of Wales, commissioned the cross, with the Goldsmiths’ Company delivering the production process. In November 2022, His Majesty visited the Goldsmiths’ Centre and struck The ‘King’s Mark’ , which depicts a leopard’s head, onto the cross himself. This was the first time that a monarch has applied The ‘King’s Mark’.