‘Gemstones are the earth’s creation, but they are a human fascination.’
Articles on crown jewels
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This display marks the first time the Tower of London has explained the origins of the Koh-i-noor diamond, which is now presented as a ‘symbol of conquest’.
Activists view their moral case for the return of the diamonds as unanswerable, but it runs up against many complications.
There will be not one, but seven crowns present at the king’s coronation ceremony.
Gems do not a monarch make, and repatriating the Crown Jewels would strengthen the contemporary British monarchy at a time when it most urgently needs to modernize.
Although King Charles will have a low-key ceremony this coronation, the Crown Jewels will still figure prominently. An exploration of the jewels tells a tale of exploitation, rape and pillage.
The coronation is a critical moment for King Charles to show that the monarchy can be more efficient and more sensitive to the legacy of British imperialism.
Top contributors
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Assistant Professor of History, Thompson Rivers University
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Adjunct Professor. History of the Royal Family, Redeemer University
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Emeritus Professor, Brunel University of London
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Associate Professor, Fashion History, De Montfort University
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Sessional Instructor, History, University of The Fraser Valley
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Professor of Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand
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Assistant Professor in Imperial and Colonial History, University of Nottingham