Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee

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Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee of 1887 marked a limited return to public view following her near total isolation after her husband’s death in 1861. South Asians played a prominent role in the celebrations. The Queen had assumed the title Empress of India following a controversial Royal Titles Bill in 1876; her son the Prince of Wales had visited India that same year, bringing back his mother’s Leaves from Balmoral translated into Hindustani. Shortly afterwards, the Queen began to sign correspondence 'V. R. & I.’ – Victoria Regina et Imperatrix.

On 21 June the Queen, wearing the Orders of the Garter and the Star of India, was led to Westminster Abbey by an escort of Indian cavalry under the command of Captain Charles W. Muir, Commandant of the Governor-General’s Bodyguard since 1885. Each member of the escort was later presented with a Jubilee medal by the Queen in a ceremony at Windsor Castle.

Indian princes in attendance that day included the Maharaja of Cooch Behar with his wife (significantly seen out of purdah; the state was known for its emancipated outlook); the Maharao of Kutch (aged 21 and accompanied by his brother); the Maharaja of Holkar of Indore; the Thakur of Gondal (who had studied medicine at Edinburgh and been one of the first Indian princes to receive the honour GCIE); the Thakur of Limbdi; and the Maharaja of Morvi (who made a gift of an Arab stallion with gold and silver trappings). There were also representatives from states whose rulers did not attend, including Hyderabad, Alwar, Jodpure, Bhurtapore and Kapurthala. They attended the ceremony in Westminster Abbey as well as the dinner at Buckingham Palace that night.

On 23 June the Queen received two new Indian servants: Mahomet and Abdul Karim. Karim's influence over the Queen was to raise him from waiting servant to personal teacher. As munshi, Karim later taught Victoria Hindustani and was subject of immense controversy both within the royal household and among members of the government. On 29 June at the Buckingham Palace garden party, the royal tent was attended by members of the Indian escort including Subadar Sheik Imdad Ali, a senior officer of the Viceroy’s bodyguard, and Risaldar-Major Nural Hussan of the 6th Prince of Wales Bengal Cavalry. Towards the end of July, the Indian princes who had attended the Jubilee were given a lavish farewell at Osborne on the Isle of Wight.