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LONDON – Camilla, the Queen Consort, will wear a recycled crown at the coronation – rather than the one that features the fabled Koh-i-Noor diamond, one of the world’s largest and most controversial gemstones, said to curse folklore and India his is said to have been stolen.
When Camilla is crowned with her husband, the new King Charles III, at Westminster Abbey on May 6, she will wear the headdress worn by Queen Mary at the 1911 coronation, Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday.
That puts an end to speculation as to whether Britain’s royals might risk diplomatic imbroglio by showcasing a gem that India – and others – want back to a global audience.
Will Camilla wear the diamond that India – and others – want back?
The palace said in a statement to the media that the choice of Queen Mary’s Crown is “the first time in recent history that an existing crown has been used” for a consort’s coronation rather than making a brand new crown.
So are you thinking… Savings? The courtiers say this was done “in the interest of sustainability and efficiency,” which sounds a bit like digging through the crown jewels to find an odd tiara, which isn’t quite the case.
The House of Windsor artfully uses religious ceremonies and royal objects – orbs, sceptres, jewels – to strengthen their right to rule in the 21st century.
Sustainability is a big deal for Charles, who talks to trees – like many others – and has been sounding the alarm about climate change and biodiversity loss long before it became a celebrity issue.
The emphasis on sustainability also hints at the unease of holding a lavish coronation at a time when Britain’s economy is not doing so well and masses of teachers, nurses and railway workers are taking to the streets on strike.
Above all, the choice of Camilla’s crown is a testament to nimble diplomacy.
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Speculations over whether she would wear the Queen Consort crown with the Koh-i-Noor diamond has already provoked international tensions.
The Koh-i-Noor, Persian for “mountain of light,” is lightning in a bottle, in the sense that India — alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Afghan Taliban — lay claim to the jewel that has been in the possession of many rulers , including the Mughal emperors of India, before falling into the hands of the British monarchy in 1849.
Britain has come under increasing pressure to re-evaluate its colonial heritage and the disputed treasures it acquired while ruling a vast global empire. And India has repeatedly demanded the return of the diamond, which is the size of a small egg.
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For its part, the British government says the stone was legally acquired under the terms of the latest Lahore treaty – and it will not go anywhere.
But it’s one thing to keep it in the Crown Jewels collection and another to televise it.
Camilla canceled her public engagements this week after testing positive for Covid. But plans for the coronation move forward.
The palace said Queen Mary’s crown had been removed from the display at the Tower of London “for modification” – to allow it to be resized and redecorated. The “repurposed” crown will pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, the palace said, with the new inclusions of the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds worn as brooches by the late queen.
Coronation crown removed from tower to make size for King Charles III. to change
While calls have been made for the repatriation of the Cullinan diamonds given to King Edward VII by Boer leaders in South Africa, there is less heated controversy surrounding these stones.
Karla Adam contributed to this report.