From gem-studded crowns to ancient relics, here's how the British Royal Family and the Vatican stack up.

Art & Artifacts

• Vatican: Over 70,000 works in the Vatican Museums, including Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling, Raphael Rooms, and religious relics dating back to the 4th century.

• Royal Family: The Royal Collection includes nearly 1 million items—paintings, decorative arts, and historic memorabilia, held in trust by the monarch.

Jewelry & Regalia

• Vatican: Bejeweled papal tiaras (retired), ceremonial chalices, and gem-encrusted relics. Designed for devotion rather than display.

• Royal Family: 23,000+ gemstones in the Crown Jewels, including the world-famous Cullinan Diamond and the Imperial State Crown.

Ownership & Access

• Vatican: Treasures are held in trust for the world—not owned by any pope and not for sale. Many remain hidden in vaults and archives.

• Royal Family: Some pieces are state property, others personal. Much is on display, though still reserved for royal ceremonies.

Famous Icons

• Vatican: The Sistine Chapel ceiling, the Pietà, ancient manuscripts, saintly relics, and the rarely seen Vatican Secret Archives.

• Royal Family: The Crown Jewels, Queen Victoria's tiaras, Fabergé eggs, and coronation regalia.

Final Thought

The Royal Family might glitter more publicly, but the Vatican holds one of the deepest vaults of cultural and spiritual heritage in the world—some dating as far back as the 4th century.