Kohinoor means mountain of light in Farsi (File)
London:
The controversial colonial-era Kohinoor diamond claimed by India is to be thrown to the public in May at the Tower of London as part of a new display of Britain’s Crown Jewels as a “symbol of victory”.
The Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the charity that manages Britain’s palaces, said this week that through a combination of new Jewel House exhibition objects and visual projections, the Kohinoor – also known as the Koh-i-Noor – will Find out the history.
The infamous diamond, set within the crown of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s mother, remains within the Tower after Camilla – in a diplomatic move – decided not to use this traditional crown for her coronation alongside King Charles II on May 6. decided to.
“The history of the Koh-i-Noor, which is set within the crown of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, will be explored,” the HRP said in reference to the new planned display.
“A combination of objects and visual projections would explain the story of the stone as a symbol of conquest, with several previous owners, including the Mughal Emperor, the Shah of Iran, the Amir of Afghanistan and the Sikh Maharaja,” it said.
The Kohinoor, meaning mountain of light in Persian, came into the possession of Queen Victoria from the treasury of Maharaja Ranjit Singh a few years before she was to be crowned Empress of India and played an important role in British coronations of the past .
It will now take centre-stage in the new post-coronation exhibition at the Tower of London.
“We look forward to expanding the story the Crown Jewels are telling and showcasing this remarkable collection to millions of visitors around the world,” said Andrew Jackson, Resident Governor of the Tower of London and Keeper of the Jewel. Home.
“We are delighted to unveil our brand-new Jewel House display from 26 May, which provides visitors with a richer understanding of this magnificent collection. As the home of the Crown Jewels, we are delighted that the Tower of London will continue to play its role during this historic coronation year,” he said.
The new exhibition will open a few weeks after the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, who will be crowned with the Queen Mary Crown. It is the first major change in more than a decade to the Jewel House in the Tower of London, which has been home to Britain’s Crown Jewels for nearly 400 years.
“The Crown Jewels are the most powerful symbol of the British monarchy and hold deep religious, historical and cultural significance. From their fascinating origins to their use during coronation ceremonies, the new Jewel House transformation will present the rich history of this magnificent collection. With far greater depth and detail,” said Charles Farris, public historian of the history of the monarchy at HRP.
Some of the other changes will include the story of the famous Cullinan diamond, in which for the first time hammer and knife were used to cut the enormous diamond that would go on display in the Jewel House.
Discovered in South Africa in 1905, the diamond is the largest gem-quality uncut diamond ever found at 3,106 carats. It was divided into nine major stones and 96 smaller brilliants, with the largest two stones showing the British Sovereign’s scepter with the Cross and the Imperial State Crown.
At the heart of the new display will be a room dedicated to the community of the pageant, pageant and coronation procession.
The display will present coronation processions throughout history, celebrating the contributions of the many people who participated in these unique events.
On display will be a range of items from the Royal Ceremonial Dress collection, including an exquisite court suit worn at the coronation of George IV and a heraldic tabard worn during royal processions.
The exhibit will conclude in the Treasury, the vault that protects most of the Crown Jewels collection, which includes more than 100 items in total. Among the magnificent items displayed in the Treasury is the St Edward’s Crown of 1661, used at the time of the coronation and the most important and sacred crown within the collection.
The sovereign’s scepter with cross and the sovereign’s orb, which are presented to the monarch at the time of installation, are also displayed in the treasury.
The new lighting will allow visitors to experience the world-renowned collection like never before, claims HRP in the re-presentation which is the culmination of a major four-year project.
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