Controversy surrounds the presence of Cullinan diamond at King Charles III's coronation: Will they be returned to South Africa?

The South African contingent at King Charles III’s coronation, which included singer Pretty Yende and minister Naledi Pandor, was further enhanced by the presence of the Cullinan diamond, the largest rough diamond ever discovered. The diamond was originally purchased during South Africa's colonial rule in 1905 and was gifted to King Edward VII in 1907. Subsequently, the diamond was cut into nine pieces and 97 fragments, with the largest of these pieces, Cullinan 2, also known as the Star of Africa, being set on a sceptre presented to Charles during his coronation. The other pieces are either on display in the Tower of London or the possession of the British royal family. Currently, there are demands from South African citizens to have the Cullinan diamonds returned as part of a larger movement to repatriate cultural artefacts. However, the task is not straightforward as the diamonds are currently in the possession of the British royal family and there are legal and diplomatic issues that must be addressed before they can be returned.