Seven Keys Unlock the Crown Chamber at Prague Castle to Reveal Czech Coronation Jewels

On Monday, a solemn ceremony took place at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle to remove the Czech coronation jewels from the Crown Chamber. Opening the vault required all seven keys, each held by a different high-ranking official.

The ceremony brought together President Petr Pavel, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, Senate President Miloš Vystrčil, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Czech Primate Stanislav Přibyl, Dean of the Metropolitan Chapter of St. Vitus Cathedral Ondřej Pávek, and Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda. Only by using all seven keys together can the secure vault be opened, which houses the most precious coronation regalia of Czechia — above all, the Crown of St. Wenceslas, created during the reign of Charles IV, along with the royal sceptre and orb.

Jewels Moved for the Exhibition

After the Crown Chamber was opened, the regalia were ceremonially transferred to Vladislav Hall, where preparations for their annual exhibition are already underway. The jewels are not on permanent public display — they are shown only on special occasions, which is precisely why this yearly unveiling always draws considerable attention.

According to the organizers, more than 21,000 people came to see the regalia last year. That exhibition focused on the fate of the jewels during World War II, including the story of how they were secretly hidden from the Nazis.

This Year’s Exhibition Theme: The Habsburg Era

This year’s exhibition takes a different angle, focusing on the Habsburgs to mark the 500th anniversary of Ferdinand I’s ascension to the Czech throne. It was during his reign that the sceptre and orb took on their current form — these are not the regalia used in medieval times. The present-day sceptre and orb were created in the first half of the 16th century, during the reign of Ferdinand I.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz