“The worst thing that colonialism did was to cloud our view of our past.” – Barack Obama
After the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II, disputes were made over some items that decorated the coffin of the deceased ruler, specifically the Royal Scepter and the State Crown. Both extravagant objects in their own lights, it is no surprise that they were created with priceless jewels to showcase its value and power. However, due to the extensive history of British colonialism, it is also no surprise that they were obtained unfairly from regions under their rule.
What highlights these two relics are the large stones embedded in their frames, Cullinan I & II, which are gemstones “cut from the [Cullinan Diamond] that was mined in South Africa in 1905” (Hagan). Now demands are being made for these diamonds to be returned to their place of origin as they were acquired under colonial rule. As of now, there is no response from the Royal Family on the matter. Unlike the situation surrounding the Parthenon marbles, the Cullinan diamonds were products of colonialism. With the British and Ottoman Empires at the time, the transaction was at least mutual between the two parties (The British Museum). However, a colony doesn’t have the same privileges and must submit to their leaders.
As a royal commentator for the London news network CTV News, Afua Hagan herself has much insight into matters involving the Royal Family, and thus developed an understanding on what can occur in future discussions. Even if she was an outsider on both sides, it would just make her an unbiased individual who could make observations with the facts present at hand.
Naturally, as an outsider as well, I can put my input on what should happen. I believe that the diamonds should be returned to their rightful owners. With the abundance of resources available at their disposal, there is no reason that they could not be replaced. From what I observed, Cullinan I & II hold no significance to the United Kingdom besides its value to the crown’s extravagance. An additional supporting point is the new ruler, King Charles III. With the passing of the queen being seen as the mark of a new era, Charles III could use this moment as a crack of redemption for his family’s history while raising his approval from his people.
Resources:
- Hagan, Afua. “Is It Time to Return the Crown Jewels?” CTVNews, 22 Sept. 2022, www.ctvnews.ca/world/is-it-time-to-return-the-crown-jewels-1.6080424.
- “The Parthenon Sculptures.” The British Museum, www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/british-museum-story/contested-objects-collection/parthenon-sculptures.