A colonial-era file uncovered from the archives of the India Office, the then-British government department responsible for its rule over the Indian subcontinent, has shed light on many precious gems and jewels that came into the possession of the royal family. The Guardian newspaper has been chronicling an investigation into Britain’s royal wealth and finances in the lead-up to the Coronation of King Charles III next month. The “remarkable” 46-page file details an investigation, apparently commissioned by Queen Mary, the grandmother of the late Queen Elizabeth II, into the imperial origins of her jewels.
Among its references is an emerald-encrusted gold girdle used to decorate the horses in the stables of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab, which now forms part of King Charles’ royal collection. Other discoveries included a journal recording a tour in 1837 of Punjab by the British society diarist Fanny Eden and her brother George, then Britain’s governor general of India, who visited Ranjit Singh – the powerful king who had signed a so-called “treaty of friendship” with the British at the time. Historic Royal Palaces, which manages several historic royal residences in the UK, has confirmed that it is partnering with an independent research project that aims to investigate the links between the British monarchy and the transatlantic slave trade during the late 17th and 18th centuries. The project began in October of the previous year and aims to examine a range of issues related to this topic. This move by the palace reflects a growing interest in exploring the historical connections between the British monarchy and the transatlantic slave trade, as well as a desire to promote greater awareness and understanding of this complex and often contentious aspect of British history.
