"Catherine lifted the huge nine-pound imperial crown produced for her under the supervision of Ivan Betskoy and settled this ultimate symbol of sovereignty on her brow. Shaped like a bishop's miter, it was crusted with a cross of diamonds surrounding an enormous 389-carat ruby. Below, set in an arch supporting the cross and in the band surrounding the wearer's head, were forty-four diamonds, each an inch across, surrounded by a solid mass of smaller diamonds. Thirty-eight rose pearls circled over the crown on either side of the central arch. When this glittering masterpiece was in place, she picked up the orb with her left hand, the scepter with her right, and calmly looked out at the cathedral audience."
Catherine was anointed, and served herself communion. She then crossed Kremlin Square to visit two smaller cathedrals and climbed the Red Staircase - all while apparently still wearing this heavy crown!
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