Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, holds the title of Queen Consort. (Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
For the first time in 70 years, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth have a Queen Consort.
Camilla has stepped into the Consort role as she gets set to support the reign of her husband King Charles III following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
With the coronation of King Charles III now confirmed to be taking place on Saturday, May 6, 2023, the nation’s attention has already started to turn to the country’s first coronation since 1953.
But will Camilla also be crowned?
Here is what we know.
Will Camilla, Queen Consort be coronated and with what crown?
In recent months, there had been some speculation that Camilla would be wearing the Queen Elizabeth crown – made by Crown Jeweller Garrard & Co for Queen Elizabeth, the wife of George VI and mother of Queen Elizabeth II, after the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936, for her husband’s coronation in 1937.
However, it was recently announced that, at the ceremony where she will be acclaimed as Queen Consort, Camilla will be wearing the Queen Mary’s Crown.
It is the first time in almost three centuries that an existing crown will be worn, as opposed to a new piece.
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Koh-i-Noor diamond
It has been confirmed that Camilla’s crown will not feature the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond, despite it originally featuring the jewel.
In order to source precious stones for the Queen Elizabeth crown, the Koh-i-Noor was taken from Queen Mary’s crown to form the centrepiece of the new design, and it was replaced with one of the smaller stones taken from the Cullinan diamond.
The crown of Queen Mary of England. In the front: The Koh-I-Noor diamond- undated. (Picture: ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
The 105-carat Koh-i-Noor, which translates into Mountain of Light in Persian, is believed to have been mined in India around 1100.
The diamond was presented to Queen Victoria during the Great Exhibition in 1851 after it was obtained by the East India Company following the Anglo-Sikh Wars.
Victoria originally wore the Koh-i-Noor as a brooch, but did not enjoy wearing it given the circumstances of how the diamond came to leave India at the end of the wars.
The Koh-i-Noor has a reputation for bringing bad omens to gentleman who wear it, and as such is worn by female members of the Royal Family.
The diamond carries a curse lethal to male bearers and “only God or a woman can wear it with impunity.”
Both India and Pakistan have laid claim to the Koh-i-Noor, but British Prime Ministers have refused to surrender the jewel.
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother wore the Queen Elizabeth crown on many occasions of state (Picture: Keystone/Getty Images)
Design
According to the Royal Collection Trust: ‘The crown is composed of a silver frame, lined with gold, and set with 2,200 diamonds, mainly brilliant-cut, with some rose-cut.’
It also features: ‘an openwork band, set at the front with a detachable rock crystal replica of the diamond, Cullinan IV, a large cushion-shaped stone, and a frieze of quatrefoils and rosettes, each with a large brilliant in the centre, surrounded by smaller stones, between borders composed of single rows of brilliants.
‘Above the band are four crosses-pattée and four fleurs-de-lis. The front cross is set with a detachable rock crystal replica of the Koh-i-nûr diamond, the other three crosses are set in the centre with a large diamond each.
‘The eight detachable half-arches each taper towards the top, and terminate in scrolls, and contain six graduated brilliants, between borders of stones. The monde is pavé-set with diamonds and surmounted by another cross with a rock crystal replica of the pear-shaped diamond Cullinan III in the centre. The crown is fitted with a purple velvet cap with an ermine band.’
However, for the upcoming ceremony, the Queen Mary crown will be reset with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds, which Queen Elizabeth II reportedly had in her personal collection and often wore as brooches.
Usage
The Queen Mary crown was designed for the coronation on June 22, 1911 and was inspired by Queen Alexandra’s crown (of 1902).
Queen Mary, consort of King George V, commissioned Garrard & Co, the Crown Jewellers, to design and put together the crown for the occasion.
At Queen Mary’s coronation, the crown contained three diamonds – the Cullinan III and IV, and the Koh-i-noor.
MORE : Will there be an extra bank holiday for King Charles’ Coronation?
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Camilla is expected to be given the crown during her husband’s coronation.
