Buckingham Palace officials are looking into whether Queen Camilla and King Charles III should wear the diamond.
The plans to coronate the Queen Consort of the United Kingdom using the Kohinoor gem are being rethought after the Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP), warned that it could evoke “painful thoughts of the colonial history”.
According to The Telegraph: Officials at Buckingham Palace are looking into whether Queen Camilla should be wearing the precious diamond for King Charles III’s coronation at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023.
The crown was worn last by The Queen Mother, consort King George VI, in 1937. It contains 2,800 diamonds and the 105-carat Kohinoor. This is one of the largest cut diamonds anywhere in the world.
The BJP has been vocal in opposing the use of precious diamonds, which it claims belongs to India.
According to a spokesperson for BJP, the coronation and use of the crown Jewel Kohinoor bring back painful memories of colonial times. “Most Indians are not aware of the oppressive past.” Indians were subject to multiple foreign laws for more than five centuries.
The spokesperson stated that “Recent events like Queen Elizabeth II’s death, coronation by the new Queen Camilla, and the use of Koh-i-Noor do transport several Indians back in time to the British Empire”
Reports indicate that the Queen Consort may see the Kohinoor jewel detached from her crown, or that the new King and queen could use another crown from Royal collection.
Relations between India and Britain took a hit recently after the Indian government was upset by comments made by Suella Braverman, the UK Home Secretary, questioning the UK’s actions regarding visa overstayers.
