Queen consort Camilla chooses crown without Kohinoor for King Charles' coronation
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London: King Charles III's coronation is fast approaching and Britain's Queen Consort, Camilla, has chosen a crown without the Kohinoor diamond for the day. The gem is controversial as it traces back to the colonial era. It is also one of the world's largest cut diamonds.
Kohinoor has consistently played a role in British coronations of the past. The revered stone came into Queen Victoria's possession from the treasury of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Camilla has chosen the Queen Mary Crown for the coronation which means it may only have a replica of Kohinoor. The current version of Queen Mary's crown has a front cross set with a detachable rock crystal replica of the Kohinoor. The original is in the crown of Queen Elizabeth II's mother – Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
Many suspect that diplomatic sensitivity may have been considered in the final choice.
Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday that the Queen Mary Crown was removed from display at the Tower of London to be repurposed for the ceremony on May 6 with jewels paying tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II. "The choice of Queen Mary's Crown by Her Majesty is the first time in recent history that an existing crown will be used for the Coronation of a Consort instead of a new commission being made, in the interests of sustainability and efficiency."
"Some minor changes and additions will be undertaken by the Crown Jeweller, in keeping with the longstanding tradition that the insertion of jewels is unique to the occasion, and reflects the Consort's individual style. These changes will in particular pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as the crown will be reset with the Cullinan III, IV, and V diamonds," added the palace statement.
The palace also confirmed that Edward's Crown, which will be used for the Coronation of King Charles, has now returned to public display at the Tower of London. The modification work for the ceremony has been completed.