Last Update: February 15, 2023, 07:40 IST
Ranjit Singh’s minor heir Duleep Singh reportedly presented the Kohinoor to Queen Victoria (file image)
The Kohinoor, which means mountain of light in Persian, came from the treasury of Maharaja Ranjit Singh into the possession of Queen Victoria a few years before she was to be crowned as Empress of India.
Britain’s Queen Consort, Camilla, has chosen a tiara without the controversial colonial-era Kohinoor diamond for her coronation ceremony with husband King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in May, Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday.
Camilla’s choice of Queen Mary’s crown for the coronation means it could contain a replica of one of the world’s largest cut diamonds, as the original now adorns the crown of Queen Elizabeth II – Elizabeth the Queen Mother .
The palace said the Queen Mary Crown had been removed from display in the Tower of London for the ceremony on May 6, with jewels paying tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
While the current version of Queen Mary’s crown features a front cross set with a detachable rock crystal replica of the Kohinoor diamond, it is not yet known whether this will be retained following the changes made to the coronation.
“The election of Her Majesty to the Crown of Queen Mary marks the first time in recent history that an existing crown will be used for the coronation of a consort, rather than commission a new one in the interests of stability and efficiency,” Buckingham Palace said. ,
There had been speculation over the crown Camilla would choose, with reports suggesting that the crown worn by Charles’ grandmother, the Queen Mother, which holds the Koh-i-Noor, was a possible choice.
However, it is thought that diplomatic sensitivities may have been a consideration in the final choice, even though Queen Mary’s Crown also once had a history of being adorned with a controversial diamond.
The Kohinoor, meaning mountain of light in Farsi, came into the possession of Queen Victoria from the treasures of Maharaja Ranjit Singh a few years before she was to be crowned Empress of India, and played a prominent role in British coronations of the past.
“Some minor changes and additions will be made by the Crown Jeweller, in keeping with the long-standing tradition that the entry of the jewelry is unique to the occasion, and reflects the Consort’s personal style. These changes are particularly relevant to Her Majesty.” Will pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II as the crown is re-set with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds,” the palace said.
The Cullinan diamonds were part of Queen Elizabeth II’s personal jewelery collection for many years and were often worn as a brooch by the late monarch, who died aged 96 last September.
The diamond has also been set in Queen Mary’s crown on previous occasions, when Cullinan III and IV were temporarily set in the crown for her 1911 coronation, and Cullinan V was inserted when King George VI was crowned. The crown was worn as a royal crown. Coronation in 1937, said the palace.
In addition, four of the eight detachable arches of the Queen Mary Crown would be removed to create a “distinct impression” when it was worn by Queen Mary at her 1911 coronation.
Meanwhile, the palace also confirmed that the St Edward’s Crown, which will be used for King Charles’s coronation, is now back on public display in the Tower of London, following the completion of its revision work for the grand Westminster Abbey ceremony. After the completion.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)