Grand Vestibule: The British Monarchy and the World
The Grand Vestibule at Windsor Castle reflects interaction between the monarchy and the wider world
Sword and scabbard
c.1902RCIN 11288
This exceptionally rich sword and scabbard were presented to King Edward VII on his coronation by the Maharaja of Jaipur, Sawai Sir Madho Singh Bahadur (1861–1922), who attended the ceremony at Westminster Abbey in 1902. For the journey to England, Madho Singh chartered a ship fitted with large copper vats containing sufficient Ganges water to sustain him and his retinue of 400 followers.
719 diamonds are set into the sword and scabbard. These include a large number of rose-cut and brilliant-cut stones as well as the flat, 'lasque' stones more commonly used in Indian jewellery. The combined weight of all the diamonds is possibly in the region of 2000 carats.