• The Goldsmiths’ Company has led on a historic commission of a new processional cross, the Cross of Wales, by His Majesty The King, as Prince of Wales, to celebrate the centenary of the Church in Wales.
• The Cross of Wales – designed and made by master silversmith Michael Lloyd– will lead the Coronation procession at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.
• His Majesty The King hand struck The ‘King’s Mark’ onto the Cross of Wales during a visit to the Goldsmiths’ Centre in November 2022 – the first time in history that a monarch has applied The ‘King’s Mark’ (leopard’s head).

The Goldsmiths’ Company has led on the making of a historic commission of a new processional cross for the Church in Wales – the Cross of Wales. It was today announced by the Church in Wales that the Cross of Wales, designed and made by master silversmith Michael Lloyd, will lead the Coronation procession at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.

The cross was commissioned by His Majesty The King, as Prince of Wales, to celebrate the centenary of the Church in Wales, with The Goldsmiths' Company delivering the design and production processes.

The commission was managed by Dr Frances Parton, Deputy Curator of the Goldsmiths’ Company, who worked with the internationally renowned master silversmith Michael Lloyd who designed and made the piece. It was designed, in collaboration with the Royal Collection, with His Majesty The King’s longstanding environmental priorities in mind – it is created from silver sheet produced from recycled bullion provided by the Royal Mint at Llantrisant, with a shaft of Welsh windfall timber and a stand of Welsh slate.

In making the Cross, Michael used many traditional silversmithing techniques which are taught to many of the young silversmithing students at the Goldsmiths’ Centre in London, which The King visited in November (2022).

In compliance with the Hallmarking Act, the silver elements of the Cross bear a full hallmark (of the London Assay Office), including The ‘King’s Mark’ (leopard’s head) which was applied by The King himself in November 2022 when visiting The Goldsmiths’ Centre in London to meet trainees and apprentices and celebrate its tenth anniversary. It is the first time in history that a monarch has applied The ‘King’s Mark’ (leopard’s head).

Read more on The Goldsmiths' Company website here.