Koh-i-Noor will remain in Britain says Cameron

To the British it symbolises the glory and power of the Victorian Empire, to the Indians it symbolises Colonial oppression and theft. The 106-carat Koh-i-Noor diamond, believed to be the largest diamond in its original form, is at the centre of a diplomatic wrangle between Britain and India, one that will test British Prime Minister David Cameron and his new 'humble' approach to international relations.

The last time the Koh-i-nor diamond was seen in public was in 2002 at the funeral of The Queen Mother. Estimated to be about 800 years old the gem - part of the crown designed for her to mark the coronation of her husband, King George VI, in 1937 - was placed atop her coffin for the funeral procession from St James's Palace to Westminster Abbey.

One hundred and fifty years earlier the diamond had been brought to England from India by the Maharaja of Punjab as gift for Queen Victoria. Not that he willingly handed it over; his army had just been defeated by British forces and as part of the Treaty of Lahore the Maharaja was ordered to give up the diamond that had been in the hands of generations of his ancestors.

The diamond is reputed to come with a dark legend: "He who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God or Woman can wear it with impunity." It was for that reason that it was presented to Queen Victoria and why it was used in the design of the Queen's crown in 1937 and not King George's.

The Indians have been trying on and off for decades to have the diamond returned, and only last month they were told by the British High Commission that the diamond was acquired "legitimately" and the prospect of its repatriation was therefore  "non-negotiable".

And that appears to be the hardline approach that David Cameron is taking in response to the latest attempt by India to get back the diamond.

During a television interview he brushed off the idea that his government would sanction its return: "If you say yes to one you suddenly find the British Museum would be empty," he said, no doubt thinking of Greece's Elgin Marbles and various other treasures that Britain has acquired over the centuries. "I think I'm afraid to say, to disappoint all your viewers, it's going to have to stay put."

Whether this is the end of the matter remains to be seen as India have recently signed up to a United Nations campaign that would see national treasures returned to their rightful owner. Perhaps the British Museum will be emptied quicker than Cameron thinks. ·