What the stories of the Crown Jewels tell us about…

What the stories of the Crown Jewels tell us about exploitation and the quest for reparations — Podcast

Although King Charles will have a low-key ceremony on his coronation day this May 6, the Crown Jewels will still figure prominently. An exploration of the story of the jewels tells a tale of brutal exploitation, rape and the original looting. Join us on Don’t Call Me Resilient to follow the jewels.

Much of what was called the British Empire was built from stolen riches — globally — and much of that was from India.

In fact, India was such an abundant contributor to the Crown that at the time of its occupation of South Asia, Britain called India the Jewel in its Crown.

India was called this because of its location — easy access to the silk route, but mostly because of its vast human and natural resources: things like cotton, and tea and of course its abundance of jewels.

Literally, the brightest jewel in Britain’s Crown is the Koh-i-Noor diamond.

Nader Shah on the Peacock Throne, whose jewels included the Koh-i-Noor diamond. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

It is considered one of the world’s largest and most valued diamonds and it usually sits on top of the Crown of Queen Mary.

It has a controversial history — namely that it was “surrendered” to the British by an Indian 10-year-old boy whose mother had been imprisoned and whose father had recently died. It’s likely for that reason, that it won’t be on display at the coronation. But plenty of other jewels will be part of the ceremony.

The Imperial State Crown on a cushion as it arrives for the State Opening of Parliament. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)

There is the five-pound gold St. Edward’s Crown that Charles will be officially crowned with, the Sovereign’s Sceptre, which has the Great Star of Africa diamond in it and the Imperial State Crown, which is set with almost 3,000 diamonds - including another Star of Africa.

Joining me to explore the history and meaning behind these jewels is Annie St. John-Stark, assistant professor of British history at Thompson Rivers University. Also here today is: Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra, instructor of history at both the University of the Fraser Valley and the University of British Columbia. Her newly minted PhD looks at how museums can grow to include voices previously left off the “official record.”

Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation day. CC BY

Although many will be out partying next weekend, the pomp of the coronation - along with its display of the Crown Jewels - does not reflect current day British attitudes. Only 32 per cent believe the Empire is something to be proud of — that is down almost 25 per cent from 2014. That means, attitudes are changing quickly.

Will the Royal Family catch up?

It’s not just the jewels, it’s the pomp of everything that is attached to the ceremony is such a contradiction now to the things we are talking about globally in our world in terms of privilege, colonialism and class structures. - Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra