Arcot Diamond of India origin: A brief story of how Nawab of Arcot gifted the diamonds to the Crown

Arcot Diamondsof India origin,famousdiamonds.tripod.com

Above image: The original Arcot Diamonds suspended from a bar brooch after dismounting from the Westminster Tiara.The are of India origin mined in Kollur Diamond mines in Guntur Dist., Andhra state. Now defunct, it was part of placer deposits. These diamonds are renowned for their size, brilliance, and presented as a symbol of loyalty and allegiance from the Nawab to the British Crown. After Queen Charlotte's death, the diamonds were incorporated into the British Crown jewels, first appearing in the crown of George IV and later in the crown of Queen Adelaide, consort of William IV.

King George III.en.wikipedia.org

Queen Charlotte/famousdiamonds.tripod.com

Above image: The American city Charlette is named after her and the bronze statue in NC is described as Britain's only black royal member...........................

.King George IV who possessed arcot diamonds walamy.com


		Gov. of Madras Presidency Sir Thomas Rumbold

en.wikipedia.org

Sir Thomas Rumbold ( 1736 -1791) Above image: Sir Thomas Rumbold ( 1736 – 1791) was a British administrator in India and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1770 and 1790. He served as Governor of Madras from 1777 to 1780.......................

The Arcot Diamonds were a set of flawless, pure white diamonds mined in the 17th century at Kollur in the Golconda region of southern India, now part of Andhra Pradesh. Gifted in 1777 by Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah of Arcot—a town then under British influence—the five large diamonds, ranging between 38 and 23 carats, were tokens of gratitude to King George III and the East India Company for military support.

An incident involving Governor Sir Thomas Rumbold of Madras led to the diamonds’ unexpected transfer to Queen Charlotte. At a party hosted by Rumbold, the Nawab wore a dazzling diamond ring. Coveting it, Rumbold insisted on keeping it after trying it on. Rather than provoke the powerful governor, the Nawab—on the advice of Colonel Alexander Crosby—cleverly wrote a letter to Queen Charlotte, officially presenting the diamonds to her. The letter arrived in London before Rumbold, who was forced to surrender the ring upon his return. Thus the Nawab of Arcot carefully without offending the governor and the queen avoided discomforting situation. At that poin of time his mind was focused on the future of the kingdom and his cordial relationship with the English royal family in London and the officals of Madras Presidency.

The Arcot Diamonds thus entered Queen Charlotte’s personal collection. Upon her death, her will specified that these jewels be sold and the proceeds divided among her four daughters. However, after King George III’s death, her son George IV claimed both his parents' property and ignored the queen’s will. Driven by greed, he had the larger Arcot diamonds removed from their settings and reset in a new crown for himself. He also kept most of the queen’s other jewels, denying his sisters their rightful inheritance.

The Arcot Diamonds were eventually separated by jeweler Harry Winston in the 20th century, reset in rings, and sold to American buyers. Their journey—from Indian royalty to British monarchy, and eventually to private collectors—reflects a story of colonial politics, personal ambition, and royal intrigue.

https://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/arcotsdiamonds.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_of_Mecklenburg-Strelitz

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/12/race-monarchy

https://regencyredingote.wordpress.com/2018/11/23/the-disposition-of-queen-charlottes-property/

https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2015/01/world-famous-arcot-diamonds-of-indian.htm