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2023 coronation -

When Charles and Camilla were crowned King and Queen of England on May 6 2023, Queen Camilla made an outfit choice that took some by surprise. 

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Crown jewels -

Missing from her coronation crown was the Koh-i-Noor diamond, a 105.6 carat dazzler that has taken pride of place in coronation crowns of days gone by. 

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Current whereabouts -

Steeped in controversy due to its colonial past, the enormous diamond is currently on display in the Jewel House at the Tower of London. 

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Exhibition -

It is part of an exhibit that examines the origins of the crown jewels, and that acknowledges the Koh-i-Noor in particular as a symbol of conquest. 

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The Koh-i-Noor -

There are multiple conflicting legends about the origins of this diamond, whose Persian name is best translated as ‘mountain of light.’  

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Leading theory -

Generally speaking, however, the stone is believed to have been discovered in central southern India in the middle of the 18th century.

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Asian roots -

For decades it remained on its home continent, changing hands as it was passed between the leaders of various empires in south and west Asia.

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Taken to the UK -

In 1849, however, the East India Company took the precious stone from the deposed Maharaja Duleep Singh and gave it to Queen Victoria I.

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Not immediately popular -

Soon after its arrival in the UK, it was displayed at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851, but viewers were unimpressed by its cut.

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Prince Albert's recutting -

As a result, and on the order of Prince Albert, the diamond was recut in 1852, in order to improve its brilliance. This reduced the size of the stone from a whopping 191 carats to the mere 105.6 carats of today. 

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Female royals -

Since falling into the hands of the British Royal Family, this extremely valuable diamond has been worn exclusively by female royals.

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The 'curse' -

Indeed, legend has it that the diamond will only bring bad luck if worn by a man. Hence the rumors that the stone is ‘cursed.’ 

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Early days -

During its early days as a member of the crown jewels, the mountain of light was worn by Queen Victoria, mainly in the form of a brooch.

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Subsequent owners -

When Queen Victoria died in 1901, the stone was set into the Crown of Queen Alexandra and subsequently into the Crown of Queen Mary in 1911.

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Queen Mother -

More recently, the Koh-i-Noor was transferred to the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, for her coronation in 1937.

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Placed on her coffin -

The Queen Mother then wore the same crown to her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, and when she died in 2002, the crown was placed on her coffin.

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Controversy -

This caused great controversy at the time, with India’s former high commissioner saying it was unnecessary to put the crown on the coffin.

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'Old empire mentality' -

Indeed, he accused Britain of ‘flaunting’ the precious stone and said that the display was a symptom of the country’s ‘old empire mentality.’ 

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Controversy -

Unsurprisingly given its past, the Koh-i-Noor diamond has been shrouded in controversy for decades.

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Competition for ownership -

Ever since India gained independence from the British Empire in 1947, various countries, including India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan have asserted ownership of the precious stone.

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Indian claims -

The government of India first demanded its return as soon as the country became independent, and it has made several other attempts over the years.

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Most recent attempt -

Each time, however, India’s attempts to reclaim the diamond have failed. The most recent attempt, made by the Indian Culture Ministry, was thwarted by the then Solicitor General of India.

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'Not a stolen object' -

Speaking on the topic, he said, "It was given voluntarily by Ranjit Singh to the British as compensation for help in the Sikh Wars. The Koh-i-Noor is not a stolen object."

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Pakistani claims -

In 1976, Pakistan tried to assert its ownership, saying that Britain’s return of the diamond would be "a convincing demonstration of the spirit that moved Britain voluntarily to shed its imperial encumbrances and lead the process of decolonization".

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Rejection -

The request was refused by the UK Prime Minister at the time, James Callaghan. He cited the peace treaty with the Maharajah of the Sikh Empire as the legal basis for the diamond’s transfer and advised that it would not be surrendered by the Crown.

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Afghanistan's claims -

In 2000 there was also an ownership assertion from the Taliban's foreign affairs spokesman, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, who said that the Koh-i-Noor was the legitimate property of Afghanistan.

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Quotation -

To quote him: "The history of the diamond shows it was taken from us (Afghanistan) to India, and from there to Britain. We have a much better claim than the Indians.”

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Status quo -

In a bid to resolve the disputes over the Koh-i-Noor's ownership, several compromises have been suggested. As of 2024, however, nothing has been agreed. 

Sources: (CNN) (Reuters) (Express)

See also: The most controversial royal love stories

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