Introduction to the Tower of London: The Tower of London has served as a fortress, arsenal, treasury, mint, palace, observatory, asylum and prison, especially for prisoners of the upper class. The last time it was used as a prison was during World War II. . It was listed as a world cultural heritage in 1988. It contains the crown set with 3,000 gems that Queen Victoria wore when she was coronated and the crown that Queen Elizabeth II wore when she was coronated, set with a large diamond "Star of Africa" weighing 109 carats.
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