The Crown Jewels have been symbols of Britain's dark colonial past. The now-independent nations want them back.

Isaiah ReynoldsMay 13, 2023, 18:57 IST

King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their coronation.Leon Neal/Getty Images

King Charles III and Queen Camilla wore many of the royal family's Crown Jewels at their coronation.
Critics say the some of the large gems represent the British empire's dark history of imperialism.

Ahead of King Charles III's coronation, Buckingham Palace assured the public that Queen Camilla would not wear the highly controversial Koh-i-Noor Diamond during the festivities.

Instead, she sported the Cullinan Diamonds, a collection of gems associated with Britain's colonial history in South Africa, and the Lahore Diamond, another controversial gem.

For many in the now-independent former colonies of British rule, these diamonds, along with others in the royal family's collection of Crown Jewels, are a reminder of the painful history of exploitation.

Buckingham Palace didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment for this story.

Though the Koh-i-Noor Diamond's origins are unknown, its first appearance in written record was in 1628.

Portrait of Emperor Shah Jahan (1592-1666) and his son.Sepia Times/Getty Images

In the 1800s, the Koh-i-Noor Diamond was included in the inheritance of the prince of the Sikh empire.

Maharaja of the Sikh Empire Duleep Singh (1838-1893).John Jabez Edwin Mayall / Stringer

The Koh-i-Noor Diamond was a prized possession of Queen Victoria and has been incorporated into the crowns of queens over the past century.

Portrait of Queen Victoria in 1887.Alexander Bassano Collection/Getty Images

The Lahore Diamond became "property of the state" when the East India Company usurped Fort Lahore in modern-day Pakistan in 1849.

Queen Elizabeth II after her Coronation in 1953.Bettmann

The Cullinan Diamond, discovered in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1905, is the largest diamond discovered in recorded history.

King George V and Queen Mary dressed for their first State Opening of Parliament in 1911. Queen Mary is wearing the four largest Cullinan diamonds.Royal Collection Trust

The Cullinan Diamond was cut into nine pieces.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla traveled in the Gold State Coach after the coronation.Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

The Black Prince's Ruby is the centerpiece for the Imperial State Crown, a three-pound, 2,901-stone-studded headpiece.

King Charles and Queen Camilla on the Buckingham Palace balcony. The Imperial State Crown features the Black Prince's Ruby.Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

The Black Prince's Ruby is believed to originate from the Badakhshan mines of present-day Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Portrait of Prince Edward striking a deal to provide refuge for King Pedro in exchange for his riches. The exchange brought the Black Prince's Ruby into the British Royal Family's possession.Print Collector/Getty Images

The Black Prince's Ruby was also notably worn during battle by Henry V, Richard III, and Henry VIII.

Tim Graham/Getty Images

The future of the royal collection and cultural archives hangs in the balance as the new king is met with increased calls for repatriation.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

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