As the Royal family gears up for King Charles’ coronation ceremony, Pope Francis has gifted the monarch his blessings in the form of a rare gift – pieces of wood from the True Cross of Jesus Christ.
The two small fragments sized one centimetre and five millimetres have been incorporated into the Cross of Wales which will lead the monarch’s coronation procession, Daily Mail reports.
Pictures reveal that the pieces have also been shaped into a cross and set in a gemstone which is placed at the middle of the bigger silver cross.
The cross’s designer, Michael Lloyd, expressed his excitement for the privilege to make the historic piece.
“The commission has allowed me to delve into the previous 1,000 years of faith and history. Now, with more than 267 thousand hammer blows, the cross has emerged from the inanimate sheets of silver, and I am delighted it will be used as part of the Coronation Service on 6th May,” he said.
As the monarch is officially crowned King in May, the upcoming ceremony is expected to be filled with pomp and pageantry.
The event will begin with a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey where the coronation service will be held.