As King Charles III’s coronation approaches, the dispute around the Kohinoor diamond has resurfaced.

The famous diamond, which is believed to have originated in India and passed through the hands of various rulers and conquerors, including the British Empire, has long been a subject of contention between India and Pakistan.

The Kohinoor diamond is one of the largest diamonds in the world, weighing in at 105.6 carats.

It has a rich and complex history that spans centuries and continents.

The diamond was said to have been owned by several Indian rulers, including the Mughals and the Sikhs before it was taken by the British East India Company in the mid-19th century.

The diamond was then presented to Queen Victoria in 1851 and has been a part of the British Crown Jewels ever since.

The diamond has been the subject of dispute between India and Pakistan for many years.

Both countries have claimed ownership of the diamond and there have been numerous diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue.

In recent years, there has been a growing movement in both countries to demand the return of the Kohinoor to its rightful owners.

More specifically, descendants of the Maharajah, who handed over the diamond to the British, have demanded its return to its rightful owners.

Dr Jaswinder Singh Sukherchakia, a descendant of the Indian Emperor who presented the diamond to the Royal Family, claimed that the Indian government is playing politics over the issue and has no real interest in laying claim to the diamond.

He stated that the issue is between the Royal families of Britain and Sikhs, and India should not be involved in the matter.

Sandeep Singh Sukherchakia, another descendant of the young Maharajah Duleep Singh, who was forced to cede the diamond to the British, added that no government has any claim to the diamond.

He said it was taken from their family by the Governor-General of India and given to the custody of the Queen, who is now only a custodian of the diamond following her death in 2022.

However, the diamond has also become a subject of ownership disputes between not only India and Britain but also Pakistan, Iran and even the Taliban.

William Dalrymple, co-author of a book on the Kohinoor diamond, has described the dispute as a “massive diplomatic grenade”.

The diamond was taken from India by Nader Shah, an Iranian ruler, in 1739, and passed through the hands of Persian, Mughal, Afghan, and Sikh rulers before being presented to Queen Victoria following the annexation of Punjab by the British East India Company.

Although it was supposedly a “gift”. Anita Anand, a BBC journalist and Mr Dalrymple’s co-author, has said:

“I don’t know of many ‘gifts’ that are handed over at the point of a bayonet.”

The Kohinoor diamond is currently in the possession of the British Royal Family, and plans for Camilla to wear the diamond were reconsidered in 2022 amid fears of a diplomatic row.

The diamond’s ownership has also raised cultural and political sensitivities, and India’s ruling party warned that the move would bring back “painful memories of the colonial past”.

Dr Sukherchakia has demanded that all relics confiscated from their state, including the Kohinoor, by Britain, should be returned.

He added that the diamond is the property of the Sikh Empire, which was based in Lahore and that Pakistan can claim it but not India.

The descendants of the Maharajah have expressed their desire for the diamond to be returned to where it belongs.

However, they have stated that they have no problem with King Charles III and Camilla or the rest of the British Royal family and wish them all the best for the Coronation on May 6 2023.