Koh-i-Noor: How did the 105.6-carat diamond end up in the British monarch's crown?
Believed to have been mined in India, it is among the largest known cut diamonds and has an estimated value of between $140 million and $400 million, though it is widely regarded as priceless
The Koh-i-Noor is a 105.6-carat diamond that forms part of the British Crown Jewels and is currently set in the front cross of the Queen Mother's crown.
Believed to have been mined in India, it is among the largest known cut diamonds and has an estimated value of between $140 million and $400 million, though it is widely regarded as priceless, says The Independant.
Early records and Mughal ownership
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The first recorded reference to the Koh-i-Noor dates to 1628 during the Mughal Empire, when it was associated with the Peacock Throne of the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan. At this stage, the diamond was part of the imperial treasury of one of the most powerful empires in the region.
Persian conquest and transfers of power
In 1739, Persian ruler Nader Shah acquired the diamond after invading Delhi and looting the city's treasures, including the Mughal throne. In the decades that followed, the diamond passed through several rulers in Central Asia as regional power shifted.
Sikh Empire possession
By 1813, the diamond came into the possession of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, ruler of the Sikh Empire, who brought it under his control in India. After his death in 1839, the Sikh kingdom entered a period of instability, during which the British East India Company expanded its influence in the region.
British acquisition in 1849
The diamond came under British control in 1849 following the annexation of Punjab. Maharaja Duleep Singh, who was 10 years old at the time and the last heir to the Sikh throne, was compelled to sign a legal document amending the Treaty of Lahore. Under this agreement, he surrendered both sovereignty and ownership of the Koh-i-Noor.
The transfer followed the imprisonment of his mother, Rani Jindan, and was part of broader British East India Company expansion across the Indian subcontinent. The diamond was subsequently presented to Queen Victoria.
Recutting and use in the Crown Jewels
After being displayed at the 1851 Great Exhibition in London, the diamond was recut and repolished on the instructions of Prince Albert. The process reduced its size by roughly half but increased its brilliance.
It was initially worn by Queen Victoria as a brooch and was later incorporated into royal crowns used by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and eventually the Queen Mother, where it was set into the front cross of her crown in 1937.
Modern status and disputes
The Koh-i-Noor is currently on public display in the Tower of London as part of the Crown Jewels collection. Its ownership remains disputed, with the Indian government repeatedly calling for its return since 1947 following independence.
The diamond has also been the subject of longstanding cultural and historical debate. A traditional belief that it brings misfortune to male owners has contributed to its historical use primarily by female members of the British royal family.
In recent years, its use in royal ceremonies has been limited amid ongoing diplomatic sensitivity, including decisions to avoid featuring the original stone in coronation regalia.
