A dazzling exhibition of royal gems being staged to mark the Queen’s 60-year reign which will feature jewellery made from the world’s largest diamond.

The major display will reunite for the first time seven of the nine principal stones cut from the Cullinan Diamond.

The gems are set in brooches, a ring and a necklace, many of which have been worn by the Queen throughout her reign, with the remaining two stones forming part of the Crown Jewels.

In a fitting tribute to the monarch’s Diamond Jubilee, the Royal Collection is putting on the celebration of the precious gemstones, charting their association with British monarchs during the last 200 years.

The exhibition, which will be the focal point of Buckingham Palace’s 2012 summer opening, will include an unprecedented display of some of the Sovereign’s personal jewels.

At the heart of the display are the gems from the Cullinan Diamond, which weighed 3,106 carats in its rough state when discovered at a mine near Pretoria in South Africa in 1905.

At first it was thought to be crystal, as it was three times larger than any other diamond that had been found.

Exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut said: ”Until 26 January 1905 no one had ever seen a diamond of this size.

”So incredible was its discovery that the moment it was found at the Premier mine it was thrown out of the window of the mine manager’s office because it was thought to be a worthless crystal.

”Now, for the first time, our visitors will be able to see seven of the nine principal stones cut from this magnificent and highly important diamond.”

The clerks who had thrown the stone away were eventually persuaded it was a real gem and it was named after the chairman of the mining company, Thomas Cullinan.

In 1909, after it had been cut and polished, the two largest gems hewn from the rough diamond were formally presented to Edward VII.

These are the largest colourless and flawless cut diamonds in the world, with the biggest – the Great Star of Africa – set in the Sovereign’s Sceptre and the second gem – the Second Star of Africa – set in the Imperial State Crown. Both are on display at the Tower of London.

Among the items that will go on show at the Palace will be the Girls of Great Britain Tiara which the Queen recently wore at the state banquet for the Turkish president in November.

It was a wedding present to Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, later Queen Mary – the Queen’s grandmother – on behalf of the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland in 1893.

Originally crafted with upright pearls around the top and a bandeau base, it was altered in 1920 by Queen Mary, who replaced the pearls with diamonds and removed the base.

It is one of the Queen’s favourites and is forever known as ”Granny’s tiara”, being a wedding present from her grandmother in 1947. It is said to be very light and easy to wear.

Many of the pieces that will be on display at the Palace have undergone transformations through the ages – having been re-cut or used in new settings depending on the fashion or the preferences of the queens or princesses who used them.

Visitors will also see the impressive necklace and earrings worn by the Queen at her coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey in 1953.

The collet necklace is formed of 25 large graduated cushion-shaped brilliant-cut diamonds and a central drop-shaped pendant of 22.48 carats.

It was created in 1858 for Queen Victoria – the only other British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee – from a Garter badge and ceremonial sword.

The impressive detachable diamond drop, known as the Lahore stone, was originally part of the Timur ruby necklace.

Over time the necklace, which was also worn at the coronations of Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary, has been modified.

A Diamond Jubilee Celebration exhibition will be held from June 30 to July 8 and from July 31 to October 7.

The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II is the intentional event throughout the world. 2012 marks her 60^th anniversary for her sitting on the thrones of seven countries after the death of her father in 1952.

Queen Elizabeth the II became queen at the age of 25 and is the daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. She is also married to Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Buckingham Palace is the main home of our Queen today. This is not only the home of the Queen and Prince Phillip but also the residence for the Duke of York (Prince Andrew), and the Earl and Countess of Wessex (Prince Edward and his Wife) and their daughter.

The crown jewels are part of the royal collection and are displayed to thousands of visitors every year. At the heart of this the jewels symbolize our kings and queens past and present.

The crown of Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

On the display there are many valuables such as the Queen Mother’s Crown (picture above), orbs, rings, swords and robes.

So if you are interested in your history and this sort of treasury, it is well worth a visit to the Tower of London.

Most likely we all have something precious to us in our homes probably not on as bigger scale as the crown jewels but you still need to keep them safe and secure.

Okay so we don’t need lots of guards protecting a few valuables but, what you can do is get yourself a top of the range Safe, this will surely do it’s job and put all your worries to rest.

The survey, compiled using data from leading insurance companies, shows that the BN23 postcode area has the joint lowest incidence of burglary in the country.

The survey is being heralded as a success for the council’s Community Safety Partnership which works with Sussex Police to tackle crime locally.

Since 2007, burglary in the whole of Eastbourne fell by 39%, far in excess of a targeted drop of 15%.

The drop in burglary follows a major focus by Sussex Police and the Community Safety Partnership to catch and convict burglars locally.

A great deal of hard work has been carried out since 2007 to detect burglary and those who handle stolen goods. The police and the partnership have also worked hard to give advice to homeowners on burglary prevention.

Burglary statistics in Eastbourne in 2006 were the worst in Sussex but through hard work and a major focus they are now among the best.

The survey by respected website moneysupermarket.com analysed insurance claims for specific areas of the UK and found that between December 2010 and November 2011, there were actually no burglary insurance claims per 1000 enquiries for the Langney (BN23) area of Eastbourne.

Councillor Margaret Bannister, portfolio holder for the Community Safety Partnership, said: “This latest survey confirms once again that our partnership with Sussex Police is making a real difference to people’s quality of life in Eastbourne.

“Eastbourne’s total crime rate has also dropped by a staggering 18% thanks to the tireless efforts of the police, the partnership and local residents.

“However, there is always more work to be done to reduce even further the rate of burglary and other crimes across Eastbourne, and assist those who are the victims of crime.”

Formerly known as the Crime Reduction Partnership, the name of the Partnership was changed in April 2011 to the Community Safety Partnership which better reflects what the Partnership does.

Whereas the Partnership used to concentrate mainly on reducing crime, the council has listened to the concerns of the community who say that these main concerns are more to do with the quality of life, the quality of the environment as well as crime and anti-social behaviour.

Although crime rates are down in this area of the UK, it is still recommended to have a Home Safe to protect your valuables.

What is Burglary?

BURGLARY is most commonly known as “breaking and entering”. Burglary is the unlawful entry into someone else’s property, although this does not apply to a vehicle this is called larceny.

With Burglary you do not have to cause damage to break-in, even sneaking through an open window or unlocked door will get you into trouble. Most burglaries usually involve forced entry, lock picking or broken windows but often burglars don’t have any contact with victims often stealing from you when your not there.

What is Robbery?

Robbery is when you intend to take something that does not belong to you. The difference here is a robber will use threat or force if necessary, most bank thefts are classed as robbery.

Wether you have been a victim of burglary or robbery it doesn’t make much of a difference but you can stop it getting to this stage by taking the necessary precautions.

To start with do the simple things right, make sure windows and doors are securely locked making it that bit harder for people to gain access to your property.

Next your bound to have a lot of keys for vehicles and objects around the house, so go and get yourself a Key Cabinet that can store all your keys.

And the final thing you need to take into account is, in your home you probably have valuables, cash and other precious items that need looking after, the best protection for these would be a High Security Safe.

An 18-year-old man has been charged with breaking into the Hollywood homes of actress Lindsay Lohan and US reality TV star Audrina Patridge.

Nicholas Prugo, who was arrested last month on suspicion of burglary, is accused of stealing $170,000 (£103,000) worth of clothes and jewellery.

Both stars’ homes were broken into earlier this year.

Mr Prugo will appear in court on 11 November facing two charges of residential burglary.

Los Angeles prosecutors say more than $43,000 (£26,000) worth of property was stolen from The Hills star Patridge’s home in February.

About $128,000 (£77,600) worth of property was taken from Lohan in August.

A statement released by Lohan’s publicist at the time said many of the actress’s personal belongings were taken “without remorse”.

Both incidents were caught on surveillance cameras while neither of the stars were at home when they were burgled.

Mr Prugo could face up to six years in prison if convicted, prosecutors have said.

Although this form of a crime happens to celebrities, it can happen to anyone.

Nowadays most of us have cash, documents and precious items stored in our homes, so it’s worth thinking about getting yourself a Home Safe to secure your valuable possessions.

According to Police reports, the unknown suspects jumped over a security gate and used an unknown hard object to smash the side glass door and entered the home. Once inside the home the suspects searched the location looking for items of value. The suspects set off the security alarms.

Police say the burglars took the safe from a walk-in closet, and used a rug to move it down some stairs and out the front door. The victim’s safe was believed to contain personal documents, jewellery and cash valued at approximately $10,000,000.00. That is quite amazing to have that much value in a home safe.

Investigators, however, have expressed some reservations about the value of the items because the owner has been unable to provide documentation. Moreover, the homeowners said their house is insured, but the contents of the safe were not.

Homeowners should know that theft resistant safes can be bolted to the ground, or can be concealed in a wall or anchored in concrete flooring. The theft-resistant safe is constructed with solid metal walls and a heavy door resistant to attack by drilling, cutting or prying. Hardened and drill resistant metals are often used to slow down attempts to break in to this type of home safe.

It is recommended to choose a safe with at least 2 solid steel anti-drill rotating bolts. Select a safe with recessed doors for additional protection, anti-labyrinth mechanism, tamper-proof security screws and bolt-side reinforced mechanism. Furthermore, choose one that features a good quality lock equipped with a relocking device so that if an amateur thief tries to tamper with the lock, the device automatically relocks the bolts.

House fires, not something I want to think about, but they real do happen. The National Fire Protection Association reports that there are as many as 400,000 house fires every year in the United States. It isn’t something we should ignore. With our most valued possessions at risk, the old adage, prepare for the worst and hope for the best, is a good approach. That means, take precautions to prevent the most common causes of house fires, and consider a home safe to protect key valuables as your last line of defense, just in case.

A recent National Fire Protection Association report indicates the most common causes of house fires. Below is the list suggested and the precautions to take.

Cooking. The #1 cause of house fires, accounting for 42% of reported incidents, is cooking. Open flames from the stove and intense heat in the oven easily result in a fire when unsupervised. Most often food or cooking tools catch fire and quickly lose control. While giving up on cooking all together may be a bit extreme, paying extra attention and never leaving the kitchen while preparing food is an easy way to reduce this risk.

Christmas Trees. Every winter families all around the world bring large trees into their home to celebrate a beloved holiday. However, Christmas trees can easily become a significant hazard. Dry tress combined with strings of lights quickly turn into fire sticks. Before placing the tree in your home cut off an inch or so from the bottom of the trunk, removing any dead wood that would prevent the tree from soaking up water. Be vigilant about watering your tree, keep it hydrated! Also be sure to turn off Christmas lights when you go to sleep at night. Or, avoid the risk altogether by getting an artificial tree!
Smoking is the source of many of house fires leading to almost 1,000 deaths per year. Lit cigarettes accidentally dropped on any number of household items can quickly become large fires. Only smoking outside will reduce this risk significantly.

Candles. An estimated 18,000 house fires are caused by candles each year. Most of the incidents are due to negligence. Leaving a lit candle unattended can quickly lead to a fire. Numerous flammable materials near a candle can easily catch fire. Reduce this risk by trimming the wick of your candle to help limit the size of the flame, or use battery operated candles.

Appliances, Heaters and Children Playing with Fire. Other common causes of home fires include over use of appliances, home heating, and children playing with fire. Faulty or over-used appliances can easily cause a fire with just a few sparks. Heating systems, especially space heaters and wood stoves, can ignite household items nearby. The curiosity of young children can also lead to threatening fires. Playing with matches, lighters, and candles leading to 56,300 fires between 2005 and 2009. Keeping these items out of the reach of children and educating them about the importance of fire safety can help reduce this risk. In the event of a house fire occurring a home safe, in particular a fire safe for the home, will keep important documents and precious valuables safe while you focus on getting your family to safety.

While we can’t eliminate all potential causes of house fires there are some basics that are well worth keeping in mind. Take these precautions and consider purchasing one of the many home safes on offer to protect your most important valuables. Safes for the home are an excellent barrier for items of both monetary and sentimental value.

North Leigh Football Club had won the Oxfordshire Senior Cup just days before the raid on Saturday night.

The club has now had to cancel two fixtures as it sets about repairing damage to the clubhouse and pavilion at Eynsham Park.

Club secretary Stacey McDonough, pictured with a smashed door and television, said: “They got in through a window, cutting the padlock and smashed the place up and stole three TVs. They broke into the pavilion, changing rooms and a staff member’s car, smashed that up too.

“They stole alcohol from behind the bar and they left the beer pumps on, so the beer has run out and damaged the floor.

“It’s going to cost thousands to put right. I don’t want to sound melodramatic but it will probably cost about £7,000.

“The main gate wasn’t open and we think they must have come in by foot.

“We’re absolutely gutted. All we try to do is provide a lovely facility to play football in and someone has decided they don’t like it.

“It’s not the first time – all the copper pipe from the changing rooms was stolen before Christmas.”

The burglary happened between 7pm on Saturday and 10am yesterday.

Police are investigating. Anyone with information should call 101.

Fred Ford Cup and Supplementary Cup games at the club will not be held on Wednesday and Thursday nights. But the club is determined the clean-up will allow it to host an Oxford Charity Cup fixture on Saturday.

Before you leave home?

You could now be away for a matter of weeks so make sure your home is left safe and secure.

• Make sure doors and windows are locked
• Keys that you are not taking are stored in a secure place
• Your spare front door key is best given to a neighbor, friend or relative
• Confidential information is not left lying around

At The Hotel

When you arrive at your hotel you will more than likely have pre-paid for your room so just hand over a few details to the reception.

Now your in your room their will more than likely be a Hotel Safe, if you have any valuable items on you it is advised to lock these in the safe.  Whenever you leave the room make sure nothing is left in plain view and look all windows and doors, even if you only go out for a stroll it only takes a few seconds to be burgled !!!

Leaving the Hotel  

Please remember to check the room before you leave and in particular the safe as these items are more than likely precious to you.

On the whole it is expected that you will have had a pleasant stay and enjoyed your holiday. But sometimes things happen that are beyond your control but if you take these precautions into consideration I am sure most of your holidays will be to your complete satisfaction.

When your looking for a Safe first you need to ask your self a few questions…

What are you looking to secure and protect?

Cash and Valuables?

Protect them from FIRE?

And protection from burglary and theft?

Safes are always offered in a variety of models and sizes. The one thing to remember is strength or quality of protection is not determined by size.

The Grade of a Safe is determined by the value of the contents to be secured. Basically the maximium value to be stored in a safe overnight at any time during a year. The Contents of your safe must be insured by your broker or insurance underwriter.

European Standards    

High graded Safe are always tested and certified in line with European Rated Safes.

In the UK these are the suggested cash ratings for graded safes:

• Grade 0 = up to £6,000
• Grade I = up to £10,000
• Grade II = up to £17,500
• Grade III = up to £35,000
• Grade IV = up to £60,000
• Grade V = up to £100,000
• Grade VI = £150,000 and upwards

Safes usually come with three locking options the High Security Key Lock which is normally supplied with two keys, the Electronic Lock or Combination Lock.

Still need help finding the best Safe for you?

You can visit The Little Safe Company Store.