In anticipation of King Charles III’s coronation next year, many people are wondering if his wife, Queen Camilla, will wear the infamous crown featuring the Koh-i-Nûr diamond. The crown was originally made for Queen Mother during the coronation of King George VI back in 1937.
It would make sense for Queen Camilla to wear the crown, considering how close King Charles III was to his grandmother, Queen Mother. At the same time, the Koh-i-Nûr diamond is tied to quite a bit of controversy – which could result in the Queen and King opting for an alternative.
The coronation of King Charles III is scheduled for May 6, 2023 in Westminster Abbey – where he will be anointed with holy oil and given the orb, coronation ring, sceptre, and St. Edward’s crown. His wife, Camilla, will also be crowned as Queen Consort during the coronation.
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The controversy behind the Koh-i-Nûr diamond dates back to 1849, when the diamond was seized by the East India Company in 1849 after Britain won the Anglo-Sikh War. Nearly 100 years later, India gained independence from the UK and demanded the diamond be returned.
Of course, the diamond hasn’t been returned and remains on the crown designed for Queen Mother in 1937. A spokesman for the Indian Prime Minister explained “the coronation of Camilla and the use of the crown jewel Koh-i-noor brings back painful memories of the colonial past.”
“Five to six generations of Indians suffered under multiple foreign rules for over five centuries. The coronation of the new Queen Camilla and the use of the Koh-i-Nûr do transport a few Indians back to the days of the British Empire in India,” the spokesperson added.
The diamond, which is a part of the Crown Jewels, is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world, weighing an impressive 105.6 carrots. It sits in a detachable mount in the front of the 1937 crown, which features 2,800 diamonds – including a diamond that was gifted from Turkey.
The Coronation Will Be a Success, With or Without the Koh-i-Nûr Diamond
While the Buckingham Palace has yet to decide whether Queen Camilla will be crowned with the controversial Koh-i-Nûr diamond, many believe the new King and Queen will make the right decision – whatever that decision may be. They’re preparing for an uplifting ceremony.
“We have a fantastic relationship with India and Indian people. It is a decision for the palace and I have no doubt the coronation will be an absolute celebration,” said Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. “The palace is really very good at assessing the public, and indeed the international mood.”
The Palace has added that the celebration won’t be as long as coronations in the past – adding it will be much simpler and shorter. Still, it’ll be a momentous day for a country that hasn’t seen a new King or Queen since 1953 – when Queen Elizabeth II became the 39th Sovereign crowned.
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The Palace has yet to make a decision on the Koh-i-Nûr diamond, but they suggested that the coronation would “reflect the monarch’s role today and looks towards the future,” adding it’ll be “rooted in long-standing traditions and pageantry”. They could make a new crown, if needed.
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