It was an institution founded in 1277 to keep the Hungarian regalia safe. The crown is unique in that sovereignty belonged to the crown itself and not the king, who ruled through it. It still functions that way symbolically for the state even post monarchy. The Crown Guard were the ones who would sneak the regalia out of the country at the end of WW2 and eventually hand it over to the Americans. The regalia would sit in Fort Knox from 1951 till they were returned in 1978 by Jimmy Carter.

The regalia include the Crown (Late 12th Century), the Coronation Mantle (1031), the Orb (14th Century), the Scepter (11th Century), and a 16th century replacement ceremonial sword.