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H S Rao in London
The Queen Mother's Kohinoor-embedded crown will be placed on her coffin as a tribute to her, the Palace sources said on Wednesday.
The crown was made for the coronation ceremony of her husband King George VI in 1937. The controversial 105-carat oval-cut Kohinoor diamond was brought from India in 1849.
The Queen Mother, who died on Saturday, had rarely worn the crown. It is on display at the Tower of London as a tourist attraction. The crown is normally kept along with others royal ornaments in a secured glass case.
By the side of the case is a smaller box embedded in a wall that displays the armband in which Maharaja Ranjit Singh once wore the Kohinoor.
India has made repeated demands for the return of the Kohinoor, saying it was taken away by subterfuge. Britain has, however, refused to oblige.
A military spectacular involving 1,600 servicemen and women will escort the Queen Mother's coffin to lie in state at Westminster Hall on Friday.
The procession will stretch for nearly a kilometre and involve troops from four Commonwealth countries.
PTI
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