The blood jewelry This is a thread about the Jewels worn by Queen Elizabeth II. They include the crown Jewels. The queen owned 23,000 jewels of which more than 19,000 originate from India. Thread
Some context before we explore: The English royalty has world's greatest collection of Royal Jewelry. Their clothes, costumes, ceremonial & coronational objects are adorned with a rich set of Jewels. The English Kings and Queens had a great fascination for Diamonds in particular
However, there was a problem. Diamonds were not naturally available in England. Until 1725, all of world's diamonds came only from one country: India. India was the only natural home of diamonds. India's proverbial riches were famed and desired throughout the world
The Indian diamonds were coveted by the British Royals and their merchants These riches were one of the primary Inducements for the establishment of East India Company. After the conquest and colonisation of India, the diamonds & gems increased multifold in the royal collection.
The Kohinoor is the most expensive diamond in the world. The diamond originally belonged to a Hindu temple. An object of British loot, It was forcibly seized from an 11 year old child Duleep Singh in a treaty after defeating him in war The diamond adorns the English crown today
The Delhi Durbar Tiara was designed in 1911 for Queen Mary for a massive celebration held in Delhi to mark the coronation of her husband King George V. It hosts precious Indian & African diamonds acquired through colonialism It is now worn by Queen Elizabeth II's daughter in law
The sovereign's orb has been used during coronation ceremony of every English Monarch since 1661 After British victory in Battle Of Plassey(1757) & from the Indian riches acquired, it was adorned with diamonds Today, it is set of pearls, emeralds, 365 diamonds and one Amethyst.
1947. The British put Nizam and his personal possessions under tremendous political pressure and danger. To curry favor with them, he "gifted" a 300 diamond studded necklace to Queen Elizabeth II. Most of these precious diamonds came from Kollur mine of Andhra Pradesh.
"Gifts" were often a means of colonialist loot induced by exerting tremendous political and military pressure. The Nizam of Hyderabad also "gifted" Queen Elizabeth (then princess) a tiara studded with expensive diamonds. He was under tremendous political and military pressure.
