Will Queen Camilla wear Kohinoor at her coronation?

The crown was specially made in 1937 for the Queen Mother, wife of King George VI who died in 1952, making Queen Elizabeth II the monarch of the United Kingdom at just 25 years old.

It was previously attached to the crowns of Queen Alexandra, wife of Edward VII, and Queen Mary, wife of King George V, but after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the crown has become a subject of controversy.

Buckingham Palace has remained tight-lipped about its inclusion in the coronation following reports of “nervousness” over the diamond.

“The original plan was to crown the late Empress Dowager when her husband took the throne,” the source said. daily mail.

“A few years ago, when the whole idea of ​​the Duchess of Cornwall becoming queen was first discussed, it was certainly a consensus.

“However, times have changed and His Majesty, like his advisors, is very sensitive to these issues.

“There’s a serious political sensitivity and a fair amount of nerve around them, especially when it comes to India.”

controversy

It is the crown jewel, but many claim it was “stolen” and should be returned.

The word “Kohinoor” exploded on Twitter shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, reigniting a centuries-old campaign to right the course of British colonialism.

Kohinoor is one of the world’s largest and most expensive cut diamonds and is the centerpiece of Britain’s Crown Jewels.

Weighing in at 105.6 carats, the diamond is said to be worth A$591 million.

However, in the wake of the Queen’s death, there have been calls for it to be returned to those claiming to be its rightful owners, with allegations that Charles III will have to deal with it, and for some people is keenly aware of how it became the property of the royal family.

origin

The exact origin of Kohinoor is unknown. The British are said to have obtained the stone in the late 1840s after persuading 10-year-old Maharajah Duleep Singh to hand over Punjab to the British East India Company.

Diamonds have changed owners many times in their long history, and debate has begun as to whether Indians are the rightful owners.

Discovered “thousands of years” ago, the diamond was owned by Mughals, Afghans, Persians and later the British before it was held by a young Punjabi Maharajah. Smithsonian Magazine.

“The fact that India has the audacity to say that Kohinoor is theirs. Originally discovered in Lahore, I’m sure it belongs to Pakistan,” one Twitter user disputed. rice field.

“Please return the stolen Kohinoor diamonds to Afghanistan so #QueenElizabeth can see Heaven,” one person wrote.

“Some people say that the Kohinoor should be returned to Iran because, ironically, the Persian King Nadir had it as a booty of war. If the diamond came from an #Indian mine and was worn by an Indian monarch, it should be returned to #India,” another claimed.

Return to India?

When the Indians heard of the Queen’s death, they wasted a little time making more phone calls asking them to return their jewels.

Just eight minutes after the Queen’s death broke, one Indian Twitter user wrote:

Comments in favor of returning the diamonds to India flooded in.

“Remember that the Queen refused to return the Kohinoor diamonds to India after they were stolen by the British.

“Can this bring #Kohinoor back? Remember Queen Elizabeth is not a remnant of the colonial era. She was an active participant in colonialism,” wrote another. I’m here.

Jyoti Atwal, a historian at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, told ABC that King Charles III must face his past and apologize for Britain’s role in historical events.

Professor Atwal said, “Anti-colonialism has now changed its face, and King Charles will have to look to this new phase of anti-colonialism.”

However, diamond return campaigns are nothing new.

In 2000, Indian politicians sent a letter to Britain demanding the return of the Kohinoor.

“Britain owes us,” wrote Indian MP Shashi Tharoor.

“But instead of returning proof of their greed to their rightful owners, the British flaunt their Kohinoor in the Queen Mother’s crown in the Tower of London.

“This is a stark reminder of what colonialism really was: shameless conquest, coercion and embezzlement.”

In 2013, former British Prime Minister David Cameron denied returning the diamonds during a visit to India, stating, “I certainly don’t believe in ‘returnism’ so to speak. I don’t think it’s wise. ”

“The right answer is for the British Museum and other cultural institutions to do exactly what they do. It’s about making sure that what you have is properly shared with people… all over the world,” he said.

Will we see you again?

Most recently, it was worn by Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation in 1953, the Queen Mother’s Crown.

If Camilla wears the crown at her coronation, it will be the first time the crown has been seen in public since it was placed over her mother’s coffin at her funeral in 2002.

first published as Lady Camilla’s coronation is in big trouble