Queen Elizabeth II's Armills

During the coronation service, gold armlets – 'armills' – are placed on the sovereign's wrists. They are referred to in the ceremony as 'bracelets of sincerity and wisdom' and are thought to relate to ancient symbols of knighthood and military leadership. New armills were prepared for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 as a gift from the Commonwealth, replacing the previous pair which had been used since 1661.