The Crown of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, I937
Containing the infamous Koh-i-Noor diamond

This crown is rather unusual, being the only one in the collection made of platinum. It was made for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother for her coronation as Queen Consort in 1937 and contains some 2,800 diamonds, most of which were removed from Queen Victoria's Regal Circlet. The principal diamond, set in the Maltese Cross at the front of the crown, is the 'Koh-i-Noor'.

The Koh-i-Noor
Koh-i-noor means Mountain of Light and tradition claims that the owner of the diamond rules the world. The stone has a long and dramatic history. Sultan Baber, founder of the Mogul empire, recorded that in 1526 it was given to his son, Haumayun, and that it had formerly belonged to Sultan Al-el-Din, who reigned about 1304.
The diamond passed to Sultan Baber's descendants Akbar Shan, Jehangir and Shah Jehan. The last named is said to have given it to his queen, Mumtaz Mahal, in whose memory the Taj Mahal was built. Possibly it was at that time the legend originated that it should be worn only by a woman, since to a man it will always bring disaster. Historical fact confirms that most of the subsequent male owners of the diamond suffered violent deaths.
In 1739 the Persian invader Nadir Shah carried it to Persia, but was himself assassinated soon afterwards. His son, Shah Rukh, was quickly deposed, but mindful of the story that the owner of the jewel rules the world, even though he may endure misfortune, successfully concealed it and presently regained his throne.
Ahmed Shah, founder of the Durani dynasty of Afghanistan, obtained the Koh-i-noor after Shah Rukh's death. It brought further calamities to his Mohammedan descendants before becoming the property of Ranjit Singh, ruler of the Sikhs. When the Sikh Empire collapsed, not long after Ranjit Singh's death in 1839, the British annexed the Punjab. The Koh-i-noor diamond, which was in the treasury at Lahore, was brought to England and presented to Queen Victoria in 1850 by the East India Company. She wore it in a brooch or bracelet, but it was later mounted in the crowns of Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary and finally in that of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. No king of England has ever worn this fateful stone.
When originally found, the diamond weighed some 787 carats but was disgracefully cut to 280 carats by a Venetian, Hortensio Borgio. Some time later it must have been cut again as it weighed 186 carats on arrival in England. At that time it was mounted with two other diamonds in the centre of an enamelled armlet, which had been worn by Ranjit Singh, the Lion of the Punjab. This armlet, now set with replica stones, is also on display in the Jewel House. Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort, thought the stone badly cut, and after much discussion and consultation, the diamond was re-cut in 1852 bringing it down to its present weight of 105.6 carats.
As the history of the Koh-i-Noor involves much violence and cruelty between men it gained the reputation of bringing bad luck to a male owner. Since its arrival in England it has only ever been worn by queens regnant and consort.