Duke of Connaught At The Delhi Durbar, 1903 Print
An old 1903 print of the Duke of Connaught who attended the Delhi Durbar in 1903. This page is from the Illustrated London News Jan 3, 1903. The Duke of Connaught or Prince Arthur had represented his brother King Edward VII for the Delhi Durbar of 1903. Following Queen Victoria’s death in 1901, King Edward VII succeeded the throne. The Delhi Durbar or Imperial Durbar was to mark this occasion of ascendency.
The ceremony was organized by the flamboyant viceroy Lord Curzon. He went down to the smallest detail in organizing this grand ceremony. So much so that it is believed to have been the best of the three Delhi Durbars. However, for some reason, and to Lord Curzon’s profound disappointment, King Edward VII did not make it to the Durbar. Instead, he would depute his brother Prince Arthur the Duke of Connaught in his place. He is shown on horseback in the engraving from an original sketch by a British artist.
Did you know – that Connaught Place (or Connaught Circle) in Delhi is named in honour of the visit of the Duke of Connaught.
From the collection – Vintage Raja Ravi Varma “Saraswati” Oleograph., Horniman Circle Bombay – Old Photo 1890., Delhi Secretariat Buildings Under Construction, 1924., WWII Map of American & British Troop Location 1946.
