The longest reigning monarch in British history breathed her last on Thursday at the Balmoral Castle. She was 96 years old and ruled over the country for 70 years.
On September 8, 2022, around 6 PM (GMT), the announcement was made from Buckingham Palace: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.”
“The King and the Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
Earlier on Thursday, BBC reported that Her Majesty, The Queen was under medical supervision, and the members of The Royal Family had started gathering over bedside at her Scottish estate.
People worldwide started speculating if they should be prepared to receive any news regarding Her Majesty, and around 6 PM (GMT), it was announced that the Queen died peacefully.
Following her death, thousands of UK residents gathered around the gates of Buckingham Palace to pay their respects to the longest-reigning monarch.
Social media has also been flooded with condolences, heartfelt messages, and tributes for Her Majesty, The Queen. Meanwhile, her death also sparked debate among people about the colonial history of Great Britain, which the Queen served for seven long decades.
Many people on the internet have called for the return of the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond, ‘currently set in the crown of the Queen Mother and part of the Crown Jewels on display at the Tower of London. The Great Star of Africa is set in the Sovereign’s Sceptre, which is also part of the Crown Jewels.’
Reportedly, Koh-i-Noor was owned by the Rajas of Malwa until 1304. Later, it was kept in Samarkand for the next 300 years. It remained in India until 1849.
Then, the British army conquered Punjab, and the East India Company took the stone into its possession. Eventually, in July 1850, it was given to the former monarch, Queen Victoria.
According to Daily Mail, “Ever since the British took it in the mid-19th century, claims have been lodged for its return by those who believe they are its rightful owners — including the people of India, the Iranians, and even the Taliban in Afghanistan (because it was lodged there with a ruling family in the late 18th century).”
In 2016, a Pakistani lawyer also filed a petition in Islamabad court where he argued that the stone was illegally snatched from an area that eventually became part of the country after partition in 1947.
The Tower of London website states, “The Crown Jewels, part of the Royal Collection, are the most powerful symbols of the British Monarchy and hold deep religious and cultural significance in our nation’s history.”
However, Indian politician Shashi Tharoor claimed that the precious diamond was rather stolen by the British.
“Instead of returning plundered patrimony to its rightful owners, the British are clinging to stolen artefacts such as the Kohinoor diamond, which they embedded in the Queen Mother’s tiara and shamelessly flaunt in the Tower of London.”
As the Queen passed away, many people called out the British monarchy and demanded the historic diamond’s return.
“Queen Elizabeth II owns the largest clear-cut diamond in the world known as the Great Star of Africa. The 530-carat gem was mined in South Africa back in 1905. It was stolen from South Africa. It has an estimated worth of $400 million.”
“The British claim that it was given to them as a symbol of friendship and peace, yet it was during colonialism. The British then replaced the name ‘The Great Star of Africa’ with the name of Chairman of Mine ‘Thomas Cullinan.'” Africa Archives Tweeted.
“The Kohinoor is the most expensive diamond in the world. The 109- carat diamond weighs 21.6 grams and is the main diamond of the British crown. The British looted or robbed this diamond and an est £45 trillion from India between 1765-1938.” Someone Tweeted from India.
“The Koh-i-Noor diamond from India sits atop the crown made for the Queen Mother in 1937, and the Great Star of Africa sits in the Queen’s scepter,” another wrote.
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Sources: Daily Mail
