Camilla’s Crown for Charles’ Coronation: A Crown Fit for a Queen Consort
The upcoming coronation of King Charles III will be one for the ages, with many details receiving close attention, particularly that of the Queen Consort, Camilla. When will Camilla be crowned, and what crown will she use? According to Royal-dot-uk, Camilla will wear Queen Mary's Consort crown, which will be modified for the event.
Modifications to Queen Mary's Crown
As announced, Queen Mary's crown will receive certain modifications. Four of the eight arches will be removed, and the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond will not be included. This decision is part of a move to avoid controversy, as the Koh-i-Noor diamond has a contentious history in India. Instead, the Crown Jewellers have opted to use Cullinan III, IV, and V diamonds, which will bring a more feminine appearance to the crown.
A Brief History of Crown Jewels
It is essential to understand the historical context of the crown jewels used in British coronations. Traditionally, the United Kingdom's sovereign uses two crowns: St. Edward’s Crown for the act of crowning itself and the Imperial State Crown for all other ceremonial occasions. However, in the case of the 1911 Delhi Durbar, King George V used the Imperial Crown of India, which further emphasizes the unique nature of this event.
While most of the Queen Consorts have chosen to commission new crowns, Queen Mary's crown has been a favorite for several Queen Consorts. Given the enormous cost of creating new crowns and the British monarchy's desire to avoid criticism, royal experts believe it is more likely that Camilla would choose from the existing five Queen Consort crowns. The Buckingham Palace communiqué confirmed that Queen Mary's crown is the chosen one for the coronation.
The Koh-i-Noor Controversy
The Koh-i-Noor diamond has a long and controversial history. Belonging to the Maharaja Duleep Singh, it was "given" to Queen Victoria in 1849 through a provision of the Last Treaty of Lahore. However, many argue that the act was not entirely voluntary, as the Maharaja was a child and his kingdom was under significant power imbalance. India's government has demanded the return of the diamond, but the Indian Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that India had no legal right to compel its return.
Avoiding controversy, the decision was made to leave the Koh-i-Noor diamond out of the crown and replace it with Cullinan III, IV, and V diamonds, which will bring a more feminine touch to the design. The Cullinan diamonds were part of Queen Elizabeth II's personal collection and were often worn as brooches, adding a personal touch to the design.
Illustrations for Reference
To provide a clearer picture, several illustrations and images have been included. One shows Queen Mary wearing her crown with the Koh-i-Noor diamond in the center and Cullinan IV below. Additionally, there are images of Cullinan III, IV, and V, as well as a similar setup for the stomacher worn by Queen Mary, which has since been broken up due to changing fashion trends. Finally, a photo of Queen Mary's Cullinan V brooch provides a visual reference for the design.
For those interested, a featured image of Camilla wearing Queen Mary's crown with Koh-i-Noor diplomatically replaced by the Cullinan V brooch is also included. The resulting design is more elegant and feminine, thus ruling out the possibility of a more hideous configuration.
As the coronation approaches, the focus on Camilla's crown and the choice of diamonds continues to capture public attention. Will Camilla embrace this crown with a smile or reserve her opinion? Only time will tell, but the careful design and thoughtful choices behind the decision are clear.