KING CHARLES’ CORONATION TO SEE CAMILLA WEAR A CROWN WITHOUT A KOHINOOR

Wed 15 February 2023:

Queen Consort Camilla has chosen to wear the crown without the controversial colonial-era Kohinoor diamond for Britain’s King Charles III’s coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in May, according to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

The choice of Queen Mary Crown made by Camilla for coronation means it will be studded with a replica of one of the largest cut diamonds in the world, as the original diamond is presently adorning the crown of Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II’s mother.

The palace stated that they removed the Queen Mary Crown from display at the Tower of London so that it can be used in the ceremony to be held on May 6, replacing it with jewels that paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

While there is a front cross set in the current crown of Queen Mary with Kohinoor diamond’s detachable rock crystal replica, it is not known yet if the royalty would retain it after the changes are made for the king’s coronation.

“The choice of Queen Mary’s Crown by Her Majesty is the first time in recent history that an existing crown will be used for the Coronation of a Consort instead of a new commission being made, in the interests of sustainability and efficiency,” said Buckingham Palace.

Kohinoor, which in Persian means mountain of light, The Kohinoor has a long and storied history in pre-partition India and the British Raj. It is said to have been mined in what is present-day Andhra Pradesh, while an account of Mughal Emperor Babur claimed that Allauddin Khilji stole it from the Indians in the 14th century. Eventually, the gem landed in the hands of Ranjit Singh in Lahore of present-day Pakistan. The diamond then continued to change hands and was eventually acquired by Queen Victoria in 1849, following the second Anglo-Sikh war, during which Punjab was brought under the East India Company. The diamond was taken by the British after the signing of the Last Treaty of Lahore.

“Some minor changes and additions will be undertaken by the Crown Jeweller, in keeping with the longstanding tradition that the insertion of jewels is unique to the occasion, and reflects the Consort’s individual style. These changes will in particular pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as the crown will be reset with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds,” stated the palace.

Also, four of the eight detachable arches in the Queen Mary Crown will be removed for giving a “different impression” to when Queen Mary wore it at the 1911 coronation.

The palace further confirmed that St Edward’s Crown, which will be used for King Charles’ coronation, has been kept for public display at the Tower of London after its modifications were completed for the grand Westminster Abbey ceremony.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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