Queen's new crown gets a taste of India

Kolkata:  The rich heritage of tea drinking in India has inspired London’s iconic department store Harrods to order an elegant golden crown as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond Jubilee celebration. Apeejay Tea, one of India’s largest tea producers, and Amrapali Jewellers were invited to design a crown for the Queen as part of the Royal Jubilee window display at the world’s most famous luxury department store from May 15 to June 15, the Apeejay group said in a release.

In celebration of India as one of the key origins of tea, the design of the crown features overt tea references such as a teapot at the top. More subtle elements of the Indian tea heritage have also been incorporated including the tiger design of the fur at the bottom which pays tribute to the Dalmatian fur that was part of the Queen’s original coronation crown and the jewelled elephants that reflects the wildlife of India.

Harrods had commissioned designers from the worlds of fashion, beauty, jewellery and cuisine each to create an elaborate crown in Her Majesty’s honour, the release said. Harrods has recently unveiled its extravagant patriotic display of the Union Jack and 31 crowns in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee on May 15. Stating that they are the only tea company in the world to be a part of such an extravagant celebration, Karan Paul, chairman of Apeejay Surrendra Group, said the crown is reminiscent of tea - both an Indian and a British tradition. “It’s a great honour to have worked closely with Harrods on such a key project that celebrates such British institutions as the Monarchy and Tea”, he said.

PTI