In 2022, to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Thomas Lyte was honoured with a commission of national and spiritual significance, the design and handcrafting of a new processional cross for the Chapel Royal. The commission united the centuries-old craftsmanship of Britain’s royal goldsmiths and silversmiths with a modern expression of faith and devotion.
To celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, the processional cross was presented as a personal gift to Her Majesty the Queen from the Royal Warrant Holders Association, of which Thomas Lyte is a proud and active member. The Royal Warrant Holders Association represents those companies that have earned the trust of the Royal Household through a consistent commitment to excellence, service and integrity.
On the 20th May, 2022, our Founder and Chief Executive, Kevin Baker, had the great honour of presenting the finished cross to Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle. It was a moment of profound pride for our entire team, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to pay tribute to a monarch whose lifetime of duty and grace continues to inspire our nation.
Founded during the reign of Henry VIII, the Chapel Royal has served the spiritual life of the Sovereign for nearly five centuries. Its choir and clergy have accompanied every Coronation since that of Henry VIII himself, and continue to play a central role in royal worship. The new processional cross was created specifically for this historic institution, which occupies a unique position within the Royal Household.
The processional cross at the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in 2022
Each year, the cross now leads the Chapel Royal Choir in procession during the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph, an enduring act of national reflection. There, decorated with poppies, it stands not only as a sacred object but as a visible emblem of remembrance, service and continuity.
The journey began in 2019 when the Royal Warrant Holders Association and the Chapel Royal at St. James’ Palace in London (via The Reverend Canon Paul Wright) approached Thomas Lyte with a brief to create a processional cross to mark Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. The design requirements were specific: the cross should be understated in spirit (reflecting the Late Queen’s preference), harmonise with the oak-panelled interior and gilt detailing of St James’s Palace Chapel, and symbolically reference the seventy years of her reign.
The chosen design for the Queen Elizabeth II Processional Cross by silversmiths and goldsmiths Thomas Lyte
Inspiration for the form and detail was drawn from the Queen’s coronation bouquet, which incorporated the flowers of the four Home Nations: orchids and lilies-of-the-valley for England, stephanotis for Scotland, Welsh orchids, and carnations for Northern Ireland (and the Isle of Man). Early design concepts combined these botanical motifs with the ecclesiastical language of the chapel’s existing silver-gilt plate.
The cross was crafted from 2.8 kg of sterling silver, drawn from an initial 4 kg of bullion, and finished with 24 carat gold plating. The staff was turned by QEST Scholar Joey Richardson from oak sourced from the Sandringham Estate, chosen to resonate with the chapel’s panelling and finish.
Production spanned around 340 hours of meticulous craftsmanship, encompassing every discipline of goldsmithing and silversmithing. Model-making, forging, spinning, chasing, casting and soldering were all employed to create each individual component, with over 120 hours of hand-polishing required to achieve the mirror finish while preserving the crisp geometry of the design.
At the centre sits the Christogram “IHS” (Jesus Hominum Salvator), realised through 3D-printed mould technology before being integrated into the entirely handcrafted metalwork. Encircling it, 70 diamond-shaped lozenges represent each year of Her Late Majesty’s reign, combining engineering precision with traditional hand-skill.
Each arm of the cross was formed from seven sections of sterling silver, chased with floral emblems of the four nations of the United Kingdom, a technique echoing the historic Coronation Plate of the 17th century, and linking the commission to centuries of ecclesiastical craftsmanship in the Chapel Royal tradition.
The result is a balanced and refined object of worship and state, crafted to endure for centuries, and to embody the artistry of British craft, devotion to faith, and enduring love and service to the four nations of the United Kingdom.
Each year on Remembrance Sunday, the Processional Cross crafted by Thomas Lyte leads the Chapel Royal Choir in solemn procession at the Cenotaph in London. There, amidst the silence, the nation pauses to honour those who gave their lives in service, men and women whose courage, sacrifice and sense of duty safeguarded the freedoms we hold today.
At Thomas Lyte, we are deeply conscious of the privilege of contributing to such an important ceremony for our country. Each year we are proud to play a role in honouring the enduring spirit of those it commemorates. We remember with gratitude those who served, those who fell, and those who continue to serve in pursuit of peace.
Read about our press mentions and awards for the project
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