Kohinoor means mountain of light in Persian (file)
London:
The controversial colonial-era Kohinoor diamond, claimed by India, will be cast as a “symbol of conquest” as part of a new display of British Crown Jewels at the Tower of London to open to the public in May.
Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the charity that manages Britain’s palaces, said this week that the new Jewel House exhibition will explore the history of the Kohinoor – also known as Koh-i-Noor – through a combination of objects and visual projections.
The infamous diamond, which is set in the crown of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s mother, remains in the tower after Camilla – in a diplomatic move – chose not to use this traditional crown for her coronation with King Charles II on May 6.
“The history of the Koh-i-Noor, set in the crown of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, will be explored,” HRP said, referring to the new planned exhibition.
“A combination of objects and visual projections will explain the stone’s story as a symbol of conquest, with many previous owners including Mughal emperors, Shahs of Iran, Emirs of Afghanistan and Sikh Maharajas,” it said.
Kohinoor, meaning mountain of light in Persian, came into Queen Victoria’s possession from Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s treasury a few years before she was to be crowned Empress of India and has played a key role in British coronations in the past.
It will now take center stage in the new post-Coronation exhibition at the Tower of London.
“We look forward to expanding the stories we tell about the Crown Jewels and showcasing this remarkable collection to millions of visitors from around the world,” said Andrew Jackson, Resident Governor of the Tower of London and Keeper of the Jewel House.
“We are delighted to unveil our brand new Jewel House display from 26 May, giving visitors a better understanding of this stunning collection. As the home of the Crown Jewels, we are delighted that the Tower of London will continue to play its part during this historic coronation year,” he said.
The new exhibition opens just weeks after the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, who will be crowned with the Queen Mary Crown. It marks the first major change to the Jewel House in the Tower of London for more than a decade, which has housed the British Crown Jewels for nearly 400 years.
“The Crown Jewels are the most powerful symbols of the British monarchy and hold deep religious, historical and cultural significance. From their fascinating origins to their use in the coronation ceremony, the new Jewel House transformation will showcase the rich history of this magnificent collection with more depth and detail than ever before,” said Charles Farris, Public Historian for the History of Monarchy at HRP.
In addition to some of the other changes, the story of the famous Cullinan diamond will also be featured, with the hammer and knife used to make the first cuts in the huge diamond on display for the first time in the Jewel House .
Discovered in South Africa in 1905, the diamond at 3,106 carats is the largest gem-quality uncut diamond ever found. It was split into nine large stones and 96 smaller brilliants, with the largest two stones appearing in the British Sovereign Scepter with Cross and the Imperial State Crown.
At the heart of the new display will be a space dedicated to the spectacle, pageantry and community of the coronation procession.
The display will showcase coronation processions throughout history, honoring the contributions of the many people who take part in these unique events.
A range of objects from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection will be on display, including a magnificent court suit worn at the coronation of George IV and a herald’s beard believed to have been worn during royal processions.
The highlight of the exhibit is the Treasury, the vault that protects most of the Crown Jewels collection, with more than 100 objects in total. One of the spectacular items on display in the Treasury is the 1661 St. Edward’s Crown, which is used at the time of coronation and is the most important and most sacred crown within the collection.
The Sovereign’s Scepter with Cross and the Sovereign’s Orb, which are presented to the monarch during the moment of investiture, are also on display in the Treasury.
New lighting will allow visitors to experience the world-famous collection like never before, HRP claimed of the re-presentation that is the culmination of a major four-year project.
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