The Kohinoor diamond is causing controversy as demands grow for it to be returned to India, where it was originally mined and crafted. The diamond came into Queen Victoria’s possession from the treasury of Maharaja Ranjit Singh a few years before she was crowned empress of India. However, Buckingham Palace has now decided to avert any controversy by choosing to use Queen Mary’s Crown, which does not contain the Koh-i-Noor, for King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s coronation ceremony next month.
Camilla Tominey, the Associate Editor of ‘The Daily Telegraph’ and a royal expert, believes that the palace was conscious of the potential for controversy around the colonial-era diamond and has chosen to do the safe and sensible thing by not having a separate debate about the jewels in the crown. The Kohinoor will instead be part of a new Jewel House exhibition at the Tower of London, classed as a “symbol of conquest” for the first time.
Charles and Camilla are also incorporating modern elements into their ceremony, including reports of multi-faith elements that connect with the wider British public, as well as the Indian diaspora. House of Lords peers of Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, and Sikh faiths will carry key pieces of Coronation regalia on the day at Westminster Abbey. Charles chose a multi-faith theme for his first Christmas message as King in December 2022, referencing the work of churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and gurdwaras across the UK.
