Anita Arnott

It's going to shine like the diamonds that we have in Europe.

But it is catastrophic.

After its dismal appearance at the Great Exhibition, even though Albert is told again and again, do not try and do this to the diamond.

Don't recut this diamond.

It has a flaw at its heart.

It will go up in smoke.

Don't do it.

He insists on doing it.

And two thirds of the mass of this diamond disappears.

Now, not disappears as in you've got two sizable diamonds, just disintegrates.

We don't know what's happened to the rest of the diamond.

But then what you're left with

is what Queen Victoria wore in her crown.

And Queen Victoria, she had two very clever things designed for it.

And I was so delighted to find the designs for these things.

A clasp that you could use it as a brooch and another that will then sort of grip it in a crown, in a coronet.

And what happens is she does wear it.

But she is the last monarch to wear it because of this idea of the curse.

And so after her, no male monarch ever wore the diamond.

It only goes to the queen consorts to wear.