The Star of Africa – once known as the Cullinan Diamond in South Africa where it was uncovered more than a century ago – would fetch about $400 million dollars on the open market. You will see it when King Charles III is crowned next year; a sparkling 512-carat diamond is set into the crown.

The more I slept on the idea, the more I thought about it, and the more I felt it was a good idea. The State can buy the diamond and pass the money onto selected entrepreneurs to help ignite and sustain their businesses; creating wealth and jobs.

Billionaire Tomorrow throws its weight behind this campaign on behalf of the hard-working entrepreneurs of Africa

Why not? The diamond is just sitting there locked away most of the time and not helping anyone. This is a way it can be used to help mankind, rather than sitting there as a useless bauble. The royal family could replace it with another diamond – or a replica  -and no one would know the difference on the rare State occasions when it is worn.

I am sure the royals can live without it and will see its handing over as another step in their philanthropic efforts. – upon which, by the way, their long-term survival could rest.

Why stop there? The royals could then move on to giving the Koh-I-Noor diamond – one of the world’s largest cut diamonds – back to India and so on. The Koh-I-Noor is on display in  London where it arrived as a spoil of fighting in British India.

The return of the diamonds would be a big step forward towards reparations for the former colonies and help balance up. – albeit in a small way – the huge wealth gap between the north and south hemispheres.

It would also cost the taxpayers of the United Kingdom hardly anything, Surely a win all around.

Our only caveat at Billionaire Tomorrow is that the millions raised by selling the returned diamond be divided equitably and efficiently among deserving entrepreneurs.

That may prove harder than prising the sparkling Star of Africa from the royal crown, but possible. Anything is possible if you wish hard enough!