LONDON: According to Buckingham Palace, Camilla, the wife of Britain's King Charles, will avoid using the disputed 105-carat Kohinoor diamond that India has demanded be returned by wearing the crown of Queen Mary for her coronation in May.
One of the world's largest cut diamonds, the Kohinoor was given to Queen Victoria by the East India Company during the colonial era. It is set in a crown that Charles's grandmother last wore when she was crowned. Since Indian independence in 1947, Pakistan, which was a part of India that was ruled by the British, and Afghanistan have also claimed ownership of it.
For the 1911 coronation, the consort of King George V wore the Queen Mary crown, which Camilla will wear. The palace said that it will be modified to incorporate special-occasion jewels and her personal style. In the interest of sustainability and efficiency, Buckingham Palace stated in a statement that "Her Majesty's choice of Queen Mary's Crown 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."
When his mother, Queen Elizabeth, died in September, Charles automatically became king of 15 realms, including Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. However, the official coronation of Charles and his queen consort, Camilla, will take place on May 6 at London's Westminster Abbey.
According to the palace, the Cullinan III, IV, and V diamonds will be added to the Queen Mary crown in memory of her late mother. Her personal collection included the diamonds, which she frequently wore as brooches. The palace announced that four of the crown's eight detachable arches would also be removed. In order to complete the alterations, the crown was taken off display at the Tower of London. In the 18th century, a queen consort's crown was the last time used again.