Celebrating King George V’s Coronation In Simla, 1911 Print
A 1911 print that shows the coronation day celebration of King George V in British Era Simla (Shimla). This page is from the Times of India Supplement of 1911. The upper image shows a fete in Annandale also called Annadale in Simla. The bottom image shows the then Viceroy of India Lord and Lady Hardinge leaving Christ Church after the coronation service. The King’s coronation had taken place in Westminster Abbey, London, on June 22, 1911. He succeeded his father, Edward VII, to the British throne.
Since India was under the British Empire, it typically, celebrated the succession throughout the country. The Viceroy was the in charge of the celebrations. In this occasion, it was Lord Hardinge. To commemorate the coronation in India the Delhi Durbar was held in December 1911. In which the King and Queen did attend.
See post King George V At The 1911 Delhi Durbar – Old Photo 1920.
Simla was the summer capital of British India. The colonial government moved to Simla for nearly six months in a year. Calcutta (Kolkata) the actual capital faced extreme heat like any other part of the country. This compelled the British to develop hill stations like Simla, Darjeeling, Mussoorie, Ooty, and so on.
This perhaps may have been the reason for Lord and Lady Hardinge’s presence at Simla at the time. Annadale ground is the biggest and flattest area in Shimla. The game of golf was the first to be played on this Ground. Football, cricket, and athletics only came later to the ground. Besides sports and games, it was used also for exhibitions and fetes.
Read more Annadale, Shimla.
Did you know- a British captain named the place “Annandale” after his sweetheart named “Anna”. “Dale” means valley. And over time the extra ‘n’ was added due to the local dialect.
From the collection- Raja Ravi Varma’s “Mohini On A Swing” – Vintage Print 1930s., Maharajah’s Motor Car – Old Photo 1912., Municipal Corporation Building Bombay – Old Postcard 1908
