King George & Queen Mary Parade British Era Calcutta, 1912 PC
A 1912 photo postcard of King George & Queen Mary in parade in British Era Calcutta (Kolkata). King George V and Queen Mary landed at Apollo Bunder, Bombay on December 2nd, 1911. Later proceeding to Delhi by the royal train for the Delhi Durbar, which was the very reason for their arrival in the first place.
Their itineraries were chalked out for them. The King was to travel to Nepal for a tiger hunting expedition. The Queen would proceed to Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Jaipur, Ajmer, Bundi, then rejoin her husband at Bankipore. Finally, the royal couple would arrive at Calcutta, received by Viceroy Lord and Lady Hardinge at the Calcutta Railway Station.
Facilitated with a hearty reception at Prinsep Ghat, the King gave a speech to a crowd of over two thousand people who had arrived there. Consequently, the King and Queen were driven in a carriage drawn by six horses for their state entry into the city. Grandly escorted by the Viceory’s bodyguards, two regiments of regular cavalry, and so on.
There was a massive crowd of people on the route eagerly looking forward to the cavalcade. Particularly jam-packed in the Maidan area to get a glimpse of the royal couple. The carriage finally reached the Government House. Again, received by Lord and Lady Hardinge and other officials of the British Raj.
Did you know – Englishmen in Calcutta were astonished by the enormous crowds that poured in, many arrived from even the neighbouring parts of the region. The crowd was roughly estimated to be around 10,000.
From the collection – 1971 Raja Ravi Varma Commemorative First Day Cover., British Business In Colonial India Old 1888 Photo., European Shopping Center British Madras, 1910.
