How Camila avoided controversy with her coronation crown

On Tuesday, it was announced that Queen consort Camila’s crown had been chosen for the May 6 Coronation of King Charles III.

Camila will be crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown, avoiding the use of the Queen Mother’s crown, which features the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond.

Seen as a symbol of conquest

At 105.6 carats, the Koh-i-Noor is considered to be one of the world’s biggest cut diamonds.

The diamond has long been disputed by India, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to be their rightful property, although the United Kingdom assures that it was obtained legally under the Last Treaty of Lahore in 1849. It is now seen by many as a symbol of conquest.

Officials felt that had Camila worn the crown, it would have caused diplomatic tension with those countries.

The diamond was taken in 1849 by the East India Company, during the reign of the 11-year-old Duleep Singh, Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, and given to Queen Victoria as part of a peace treaty.

The diamond is said to have been mined thousands of years ago before it was re-cut into an oval shape by Coster Diamonds in 1852.

The diamond then sat in the royal vault until it was used in Queen Mary’s Crown in 1911 before it was placed on the Queen Mother’s crown in 1937 for her coronation.

Breaking with tradition

Camila’s wearing of Queen Mary’s Crown marks a historic first for a queen consort to wear an existing crown for her coronation, rather than having one made for her, according to the royal palace.

In 1914, Queen Mary’s Crown had its diamonds, the Cullinan III, IV, and V, and the infamous Koh-i-Nor replaced with crystal.

For Camila’s coronation, the three Cullinan diamonds will be re-added, which the palace explains “were part of Queen Elizabeth II’s personal jewelry collection for many years and were often worn by Her late Majesty as brooches.”

Call for diamonds to be returned to countries of origin

After Queen Elizabeth II’s death, there were calls for all the diamonds in the crown jewels to be returned to the countries they came from.

This includes the Koh-i-Nor as well as the Cullinan diamonds. The Cullinan diamonds were originally one large diamond before it was cut into nine pieces. They were discovered in South Africa in 1905 by Thomas Cullinan.