Why is the world fighting over Queen Elizabeth’s royal jewels? From Koh-i-noor on queen mother’s crown to South Africa’s Cullinan diamonds on the Sovereign’s Sceptre and Imperial State Crown …

Sep 25 , 2022

Queen Elizabeth’s royal gemstone collection has been the subject of controversy. Photo: @Africa_Archives/Twitter

Queen Elizabeth’s passing in September saddened many royal fans worldwide, but some spectators are arguing that the crown jewels should return to their countries of origin

Koh-i-noor has a long history, with India, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan all claiming ownership, while the Great Star and Second Star have roots in South Africa

The passing of Queen Elizabeth on September 8 shook the world. Millions of fans globally mourned as a wave of grief and gratitude poured out.

However, something else has taken the spotlight recently and even outshone her funeral – three diamonds in the royal family. Out of 23,000 gemstones in the Crown Jewels, the Koh-i-noor diamond on the queen mother’s crown, the Great Star of Africa mounted atop the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross, and the Second Star of Africa on the Imperial State Crown have become a point of contention between British royalty and India and South Africa.

So why are the jewels caught in the middle of a controversy? Read on to discover the origins and significance of the diamonds.

Koh-i-noor

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth wearing the Imperial Crown, as she walks in procession through The Royal Gallery on her way to give her speech during the ceremonial state opening of parliament in London, Britain, in 2002. Photo: EPA

At 105.6 carats, the Koh-i-noor weighs a mere 21g but fetches a hefty price estimated at up to US$400 million, per Baunat Smart Jewellery. It was originally 186 carats, but Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, had it re-cut in 1852 to enhance its brilliance and fit modern European style, per Smithsonian Magazine. The diamond was then set in the crown of Queen Alexandra, then Queen Mary, then queen mother, who wore it in 1937. The Economic Times reported that Camilla will be doing the same at King Charles’s coronation as queen consort.

As one of the largest cut diamonds in the world, the Koh-i-noor did not belong to the British royal family originally. It was attained through conquests as part of diplomatic settlements.

The famous Indian Koh-i-noor diamond. Photo: AFP

According to HRP, the diamond was mined from Golconda, the principal capital of the Qutub Shahi kings, in the Western part of Hyderabad city. In 1849, the East India Company, a British trading enterprise from 1600 to the 1870s, took the jewel from Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last king of the Sikh empire.

The Sikhs had to surrender the diamond to Queen Victoria as part of the Treaty of Lahore, which marked the end of Anglo-Sikh Wars in the Punjab – present-day eastern Pakistan and northern India.

An undated portrait of Shah Jahan. Photo: Handout

The huge diamond has passed through the hands of many royal kings. It started with the Mughal Emperors in the 16th century, before moving on to the Persian leader Nader Shah, Emirs of Afghanistan and finally Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1813, as per World History.

Therefore, it is no surprise that India, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan are all claiming ownership of the Koh-i-noor over the British royal family now.