This year's display of the Bohemian Crown Jewels is subtitled Treasure in the Darkness. As the name suggests, it introduces visitors to the fate of the royal regalia during the Second World War. Even before the war, President Beneš had them transferred to Slovakia for safekeeping in the vault of a branch of the National Bank of Czechoslovakia. However, due to the rapidly changing situation in both Czechia and Slovakia, an urgent decision was made just days later to bring them back to Prague. Towards the end of the war, some of the jewels were then secretly walled up in the Romanesque underground of the Old Royal Palace at Prague Castle. They remained in the cellar until they were brought to light in October 1945. The exhibition recounts the dramatic story of the jewels through materials from the funds and collections of the Archive of the Office of the President of the Czech Republic, the Prague Castle Collections, and the Czech News Agency Photo Archive. In addition to written sources, it will feature period photographs and physical objects, including the crate used to transport the jewels. The Crown Jewels will be ceremonially removed from the Crown Chamber in the Cathedral of St Vitus, St Wenceslas, and St Adalbert on Monday, 15 September 2025. School groups will be able to see them for the next two days. The exhibition will be open to the public from Thursday 18 September to Monday 29 September and admission will again be free. On 16 and 17 September, the exhibition is reserved for pre-registered school groups only. Registration here.