But what really caught my eye during the proceedings was the orb, scepter and, of course, the imperial state crown that adorned Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin.  The impressive crown is formed by a pierced gold frame, set with three huge stones, and set with 2,868 diamonds on silver mounts and colored stones on gold mounts, including 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 269 pearls.
At the front of the crown band is the large cushion brilliant Cullinan II, the second largest stone cut from the Cullianan diamond, also known as the second star of Africa.  This crown was made for the coronation of King George VI in 1937, but is closely based on a crown designed for Queen Victoria in 1838 by the jewelers of the time, Rundell, Bridge & Rundell.  On the Scepter is Cullinan I, also known as the Great Star of Africa.  The diamond is cut from a larger gem mined in South Africa in 1905, weighs approximately 3,106 carats in its original state and is believed to be the size of an average human heart.
The Queen’s death and the fact that the Crown Jewels are so clearly on display has reignited debate about Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and the legacy of colonial rule.  These talks have led to calls for these diamonds to be returned to South Africa with immediate effect.  Social media has been abuzz with users calling for the diamonds to be returned to a South African museum and reparations paid.  More than 6,000 people have signed a petition calling for the diamonds to be given to South Africa immediately by the British royal family.
Diamonds have a dubious history.  They were discovered in a mine in 1905 and quickly bought by the Transvaal government of South Africa, which was controlled by the British at the time, and then presented to the then monarch King Edward VII as a birthday present.  Many say the mining networks at the time were illegal because of colonialism – the British appropriated the mine and stole land that belonged to local people.  The royal family has effectively received a diamond that was originally stolen and now it’s time to return it.

In this April 5, 2002 file photo, the Koh-i-noor, or “Mountain of Light,” diamond, set in the Maltese Cross on the front of the tiara made for Britain’s late Queen Mother Elizabeth, is seen in her coffin. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File) There are also calls for the Koh-i-Noor diamond, which is set in a crown made for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, mother of Queen Elizabeth II, to be returned to India as well after it was seized by the British East India Company under pressure in the 1840s. It was part of an exhibition in 1851 and a few people dared to point out that the diamond was part of an operation to loot India by the British, but these appeals were largely ignored. Prince Consort Albert had the diamond cut to defuse the scandal and it then became the centerpiece of Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary’s crowns before the stunning jewel was finally placed in the Queen Mother’s crown in 1937. It has been part of the Crown Jewels ever since. Some might say this is an insensitive time to discuss requests for certain crown jewels, but is there ever a good time to discuss topics that are uncomfortable? If there’s one thing about such a public and collective outpouring of grief, it’s that it shakes you up and creates space for uncomfortable conversations. What cannot be ignored are the legitimate concerns of the citizens of the countries from which the diamonds originate that they have been appropriated by colonialism and therefore must be returned. Earlier this year, the Horniman Museum in London said it would return a collection of 72 objects called the Benin Bronzes to the Nigerian government. Horniman’s collection is a small part of the 3,000 to 5,000 artifacts taken from the Kingdom of Benin in 1897, when British soldiers attacked and occupied Benin City as Britain expanded its political and commercial influence in West Africa. The British Museum alone contains more than 900 objects from Benin and the National Museums of Scotland have another 74. Others have been distributed to museums around the world. They are also facing increased pressure to return these objects to Nigeria, where they will be displayed at the Edo Museum of West African Art, which is due to open in 2025. The case of the Benin bronzes shows that with proper consultation and discussion, objects can be returned to their rightful place. I’m not saying we’re raiding the Tower of London and handing out the Crown Jewels, but on the threshold of this new era of monarchy, it’s time for King Charles III and his successor Prince William, the new Prince of Wales, to look the royal family’s colonial past and the riches acquired from it and whether these objects have a place in the multicultural future of their kingdom. Returning jewelry and items to where they belong is a good place to start.