2023-05-06 09:30:19
Published on :
The coronation of Charles III on Saturday rekindled calls in South Africa for the return to the country of the world’s largest diamond, the centerpiece of a scepter the monarch is to hold during the ceremony in London. This jewel, which weighs 530 carats, was found in South Africa in 1905, then under British rule. Two years later it was donated by the colonial government to the Crown. But many South Africans believe that this famous diamond was stolen from them.
The Cullinan I – named following the contractor who owned the mine – is the largest diamond in the world. Also nicknamed the “Star of Africa”, he would be worth 400 million dollars today.
Since the end of apartheid in South Africa, there have been regular calls for its return, each time more urgent, such as during the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to the country in 1995. An online petition urging King Charles to return various diamonds considered “stolen” received more than 8,000 signatures.
At the same time, the restitution of African objects from the former colonial powers has intensified in recent years.
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