Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Luna Queen by Victoria Khan The Execution of Stoddart and Conolly in Bukhara. Two gaunt, ragged men kneeled beside the graves they had just dug in the square before Bukhara's Ark Fortress. Their hands were bound behind their backs, and their hair and beards crawled with lice. In front of a small crowd, the Emir of Bukhara, Nasrullah Khan, gave the signal. A sword flashed in the sun, severing the head of Colonel Charles Stoddart of the British East India Company (BEI). The sword fell a second time, decapitating Stoddart's would-be rescuer, Captain Arthur Conolly of the BEI's Sixth Bengal Light Cavalry. With these two strokes, Nasrullah Khan ended Stoddart and Conolly's roles in "The Great Game," a term that Conolly himself coined to describe the competition between Britain and Russia for influence in Central Asia. But the Emir could not have known that his actions in 1842 would help shape the fate of his entire region well into the twentieth century. Charles Stoddart and the Emir. Colonel Charles Stoddart arrived in Bukhara (now in Uzbekistan) on December 17, 1838, sent to try to arrange an alliance between Nasrullah Khan and the British East India Company against the Russian Empire, which was expanding its influence south. Russia had its eye on the khanates of Khiva, Bukhara, and Khokand, all important cities along the ancient Silk Road. From there, Russia could threaten Britain's hold on its crown jewel — British India. Unfortunately for the BEI and especially for Colonel Stoddart, he offended Nasrullah Khan constantly from the moment he arrived. In Bukhara, it was customary for visiting dignitaries to dismount, lead their horses into the square or leave them with servants outside, and bow before the Emir. Stoddart instead followed British military protocol, which called for him to remain seated on his horse and salute the Emir from the saddle. Nasrullah Khan reportedly stared pointedly at Stoddart for some time after this salute and then stalked off without a word. The Bug Pit. Ever the supremely self-confident representative of imperial Britain, Colonel Stoddart continued to commit gaffe after gaffe during his audiences with the Emir. Finally, Nasrullah Khan could bear the affronts to his dignity no more and had Stoddart thrown into the "Bug Pit" — a vermin- infested dungeon under the Ark Fortress. Months and months went by, and despite the desperate notes that Stoddart's accomplices smuggled out of the pit for him, notes that made their way to Stoddart's colleagues in India as well as his family in England, no sign of a rescue appeared. Finally, one day the city's official executioner climbed down into the pit with orders to behead Stoddart on the spot unless he converted to Islam. In desperation, Stoddart agreed. Pleasantly surprised by this concession, the Emir had Stoddart brought out of the pit and placed into a much more comfortable house arrest in the chief of police's home. During this period, Stoddart met with the Emir on several occasions, and Nasrullah Khan began to consider allying himself with the British against the Russians. Arthur Conolly to the Rescue. Busy propping up an unpopular puppet ruler in Afghanistan, the British East India Company had neither the troops nor the will to launch a military force into Bukhara and rescue Colonel Stoddart. The Home Government in London also had no attention to spare a lone imprisoned emissary, since it was embroiled in the First Opium War against Qing China. The rescue mission, which arrived in November of 1841, ended up being just one man - Captain Arthur Conolly of the cavalry. Conolly was an evangelical Protestant from Dublin, whose stated goals were to unite Central Asia under British rule, Christianize the region, and abolish the slave trade. A year earlier, he had set out for Khiva on a mission to convince the Khan to stop trading enslaved people; trade in captive Russians gave St. Petersburg a potential excuse for conquering the khanate, which would disadvantage the British. The Khan received Conolly politely but was not interested in his message. Conolly moved on to Khokand, with the same result. While there, he received a letter from Stoddart, who was just under house arrest at that particular time, stating that the Emir of Bukhara was interested in Conolly's message. Neither Briton knew that Nasrullah Khan was really using Stoddart to lay a trap for Conolly. Despite a warning from the Khan of Khokand about his treacherous neighbor, Conolly set out to try to free Stoddart. Incarceration. The Emir of Bukhara initially treated Conolly well, although the BEI captain was shocked at the emaciated and haggard appearance of his fellow countryman, Colonel Stoddart. When Nasrullah Khan realized, however, that Conolly did not bring a reply from Queen Victoria to his own earlier letter, he grew enraged. The Britons' situation grew even more dire after January 5, 1842, when Afghan militants massacred the BEI's Kabul garrison during the First Anglo-Afghan War. Just one British doctor escaped death or capture, returning to India to tell the story. Nasrullah immediately lost all interest in aligning Bukhara with the British. He tossed Stoddart and Conolly into prison — a regular cell this time, though, rather than the pit. Execution of Stoddart and Conolly. On June 17, 1842, Nasrullah Khan ordered Stoddart and Conolly brought to the square in front of the Ark Fortress. The crowd stood quietly while the two men dug their own graves. Then their hands were tied behind them, and the executioner forced them to kneel. Colonel Stoddart called out that the Emir was a tyrant. The executioner sliced off his head. The executioner offered Conolly the chance to convert to Islam in order to save his own life, but the evangelical Conolly refused. He too was beheaded. Stoddart was 36 years old; Conolly was 34. Aftermath. When word of Stoddart and Conolly's fate reached the British press, it rushed to lionize the men. The papers praised Stoddart for his sense of honor and duty, as well as his fiery temper (hardly a recommendation for diplomatic work), and emphasized Conolly's deeply-held Christian faith. Outraged that the ruler of an obscure Central Asian city-state would dare execute these sons of the British Empire, the public called for a punitive mission against Bukhara, but the military and political authorities had no interest in such a move. The two officers' deaths went unavenged. In the longer term, the British lack of interest in pushing their line of control into what is now Uzbekistan had a profound effect on the history of Central Asia. Over the next forty years, Russia subdued the entire area that is now Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Central Asia would remain under Russian control until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Hopkirk, Peter. The Great Game: On Secret Service in High Asia , Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. Lee, Jonathan. The "Ancient Supremacy": Bukhara, Afghanistan, and the Battle for Balkh, 1731-1901 , Leiden: BRILL, 1996. Van Gorder, Christian. Muslim-Christian Relations in Central Asia , New York: Taylor & Francis US, 2008. Sadiq Khan's statue adviser filmed yelling at Queen as he interrupts public ceremony. When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sadiq Khan has been criticised for focussing on creating a task force dedicated to evaluating statues and road names across the capital. The task force includes campaigner Toyin Agebetu who confronted the Queen during a ceremony in 2007 at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolishment of the slave trade. Related articles. Mr Agebetu disrupted the ceremony to demand an apology from the Queen and the British Government for their role in the slave trade. During the ceremony, Mr Agebetu stood up and said: "You should be ashamed, we should not be here. "This is an insult to us, I want all the Christians who are Africans to walk out of here with me." He indicated to the Queen and the Prime Minister at the time, Tony Blair, that they were a disgrace and should issue a formal apology. Sadiq Khan's statue adviser filmed yelling at Queen as he interrupts public ceremony (Image: BBC/GETTY) Sadiq Khan: He indicated to the Queen and the Prime Minister at the time, Tony Blair, that they were a disgrace and should issue a formal apology. (Image: BBC) Stay up to date with politics and royal news. Get comprehensive coverage from our insiders and sources on the political and royal news with our daily email briefings. Receive the news that matters to you from the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace, as well as TV clashes and fearsome debates. Mr Agebetu was eventually escorted outside of Westminster Abbey. Following unrest across the UK, regarding statues depicting slave traders, Sadiq Khan set up the statue task force. However, the London Mayor has been heavily criticised for this decision with many insisting this is not the most pressing issue facing the city. Former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib argued the mayor should focus more strongly on TfL, London housing and crime. Sadiq Khan: Mr Agebetu was metres away from the Queen during his furious rant (Image: BBC) What Did Queen Victoria Do That Was Important? Queen Victoria established the modern role of a monarch in a constitutional monarchy and exerted her influence to promote the British Empire's expansion and reforms benefiting the poor, according to the website of The British Monarchy. During her 67-year reign of Britain, the Empire experienced immense social, political and industrial change. Her longevity, combined with her grace and reclusive nature, led to her becoming a national icon of moral strictness. Queen Victoria ruled during a time when the British monarch held little real political power. Nevertheless, she used her title and personality to influence public affairs as she saw fit. The effects of her behind-the-scenes politicking were observable in foreign policy. Victoria successfully pressed her ministers to avoid involving the nation in the Prussia-Austria-Denmark War, thereby saving Britain from the costs of massive military engagement. According to the official website of The British Monarchy, Victoria prevented a Franco-German war in 1875 by writing a persuasive letter to the Emperor of Germany, whose son had married her daughter. Through a personal relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, Queen Victoria indirectly shaped the foreign policy that made Britain a world empire. During her reign, the Crown took over rule of India from the East India Company; the Royal Titles Act made Victoria Empress of India. Victoria also supported a number of acts that democratized the country, including the establishment of the secret ballot, easing of voting requirements and enacting of wage increases for the working class. Barakah. Barakah is dedicated to Mawlana Shah Karim al Hussaini, Highness the Aga Khan, and the Ismaili Imamat. Glimpses from past and present: The Aga Khans and Queens Victoria and Elizabeth II. Compiled and prepared by ABDULMALIK MERCHANT Publisher-Editor, Simerg , Barakah and Simergphotos. Victoria Day. Victoria Day is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday before May 25, in honour of Queen Victoria’s birthday. Queen Victoria was born on May 24, 1819. Following the death of three uncles and her father, she became Queen of the United Kingdom on June 20, 1837 and reigned for 63 years until her death on January 22, 1901. In 2021, Victoria Day falls on Monday, May 24. Queen Victoria and family. Copyrighted by Boussod Valadon & Co. Painting by John Philip. Date created/published c.1897. Credit: USA Library of Congress Collection. The Ismaili Imamat’s deeply rooted historical partnership with the British Monarchy and the United Kingdom. Mawlana Sultan Mahomed, His Highness the Aga Khan III (1877 – 1957), 48th Imam of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, who was born in Karachi on November 2, 1877, set out from Bombay in 1898 to see the world. His journeys took him to France, England, Germany, Russia, East Africa, Egypt and Japan, not necessaritly in that order. In England he was received by Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, popularly known as Lord Salisbury, the Secretary of State for India, Lord George Hamilton, and other prominent men in high places. On a royal invitation he stayed with Queen Victoria (1819 – 1901) at Windsor Castle, when she decorated him with his first British Title, the Order of the Knight Cross of the British Empire (K.C.I.E). Queen Victoria also bestowed him with the title His Highness. Queen Victoria expired on January 22, 1901, and Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah attended her funeral in London on February 2, 1901. He was the personal guest of emperor Edward VII at his coronation in August 2, 1902 and he was promoted from the rank of Knight to that of Grand Commander of the Order of Indian Empire (G.C.I.E.). He returned to India in November, 1902. The viceroy of India, Lord Curzon appointed him to a seat of his Legislative Council of India. Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah was succeeded by Mawlana Hazar Imam Shah Karim al-Hussaini on July 11, 1957 after a reign of 72 years, the longest in Ismaili history. Queen Elizabeth II conferred the style of “His Highness” on him on July 26th, 1957, two weeks after he became the 49th Imam. According to a letter from the secretary of state for the colonies, it was granted “in view of his succession to the Imamat and his position as spiritual Head of the Ismailis.” In his 1954 autobiography, “Memoirs of Aga Khan: World Enough and Time,” Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah described how he was received by Queen Victoria, forged a friendship with Winston Churchill, befriended King Edward VII and lived through the apex of British imperial might and decline in colonial India. We produce below Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah’s quotes but begin with excerpts from a speech made by Mawlana Shah Karim during his Golden Jubilee in 2008 in which he alludes to his family’s and community’s close partnership with the United Kingdom. His Highness the Aga Khan with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during a dinner hosted by Her Majesty in honour of the 49th Ismaili Imam at Buckingham Palace on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee in July 2008. Photo: AKDN/Gary Otte. By HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN, MAWLANA SHAH KARIM AL HUSSAINI (Golden Jubilee Banquet in London, UK, July 3, 2008) Over a century ago, my grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, worked closely with Her Majesty Queen Victoria and her governments in the pursuit of common ideals. These ties were further strengthened by the strong presence of the Ismaili community – initially in places which later became Commonwealth countries, and later, here in the United Kingdom. It is striking to me that in 1957, there were only about 100 Ismaili residents in this country, and most of them were students. Today, there are fourteen thousand Ismailis permanently living here and of all ages and walks of life. In 1957, there was only one Ismaili space here for congregational prayer — and that was on leased premises! Creating places of prayer as centres for community life was fundamental to ensuring the cohesion of the community, and there are now over 40 such places. Among them, of course, a central focal point is The Ismaili Centre, located in South Kensington. All of these comments, then, speak to the context in which we gather tonight — a rich history of partnership reaching deeply into the past — and extending, we hope and trust, into an even more productive future. His Highness the Aga Khan III. The Aga Khan’s Deep Impressions of Queen Victoria. 1. Excerpts from Life Magazine, May 16, 1949. His Highness the Aga Khan III in full regalia. Photo: Fidai Magazine. The first deep impression of my life was undoubtedly when I had dinner with Queen Victoria. I was in my 20th year and that was my first visit to London. The queen was fond of Indian potentates and she kindly invited out to Windsor to dine and spend the night. She placed me next to her at the table. The queen was most gracious. She arranged that the food was served by Indians, and she spoke to me about the problems of India, the plague and all that. She was especially interested in the plague. I was young and I was particularly interested by her human element. She was then 79, you know, and the dinner was very long, with three sweet courses at the end, but she ate everything. She was dressed in black, with a white-collar. She wore a huge bracelet having a medallion of her husband, Prince Albert, on it, and one large diamond ring and several smaller diamonds. She did not wear glasses but she saw clearly and she had beautiful hearing — she could hear a whisper. She was a remarkable woman — yes, undoubtedly, I must be one of the few left alive who have dined with her. 2. Excerpts from The Memoirs of Aga Khan, 1954. My life in many ways has been a bridge across vastly differing epochs. Looking at it for the moment simply from the Western point of view — I had a full life in the Victorian era, and I am leading now an equally full life in this new Elizabethan era. When I was a young man I sat next to Queen Victoria at a dinner party and talked to her throughout it; the other day I sat next to Queen Elizabeth II at a tea party and talked to her throughout it. In my youth the internal combustion engine was in its early, experimental phase, and the first motor cars were objects of ridicule; now we all take supersonic jet propulsion for granted, and interplanetary travel is far more seriously discussed today than was even the smallest flying venture at a time when I was quite grown up and had already lived a full and active life…. Queen Victoria herself was of course sharply conscious of the responsibilities, not only political but personal and social, which she had assumed with the splendid title of Empress of India. She insisted that Indian Princes and Indian gentlefolk should receive the respect and the dignified status accorded in those days to European princes and gentlefolk. The Duke of Connaught faithfully practiced her principles during his time in India. The Viceroy and Vicereine, Lord and Lady Dufferin, were, like Lord and Lady Reay, people of kind and gentle sensibility, warm hearts and graceful manners. A tone thus set could not be ignored, and Indo-British relationships in general were in this pattern. There is an outstanding example that I recall: Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, a notable figure in the Parsee community in Bombay, gave a reception for the Viceroy and Vicereine, Lord and Lady Dufferin, for the Governor of Bombay and his wife, Lord and Lady Reay, and for the Duke and Duchess of Connaught. Sir Jeejeebhoy, as host, offered his arm to Lady Dufferin and went into the supper room, and the Viceroy followed with his hostess, Lady Jeejeebhoy, and everyone else went after in turn. A few years later — and thereafter, until the end of the Indian Empire — it would have been inconceivable that the Viceroy, a Prince of the British Royal House and the Governor of the great province of British India, would have gone to a reception at the house of a Parsee gentleman, however distinguished, and allowed him to lead the Vicereine in first and then have followed with his hostess. At Ascot I have had a Royal Household badge for well over fifty years; I was first given my badge by Queen Victoria, and it has successively been re-bestowed on me by King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. [Egypt’s] Prince Mohammed Ali and I have been friends for fifty-five years. When I first went to London in 1898, he and I stayed at the same hotel, the old Albemarle in Piccadilly. He dined at Windsor Castle as Queen Victoria’s guest either shortly before or after I had the same honor. By a curious and delightful coincidence, fifty-five years later, in Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation Year, he and I, who had been Queen Victoria’s guests at dinner, in the same summer were her young great-great-granddaughter’s guests at tea. Across this great stretch of time Prince Mohammed Ali and I have been firm and fast friends. The Aga Khan’s Gifts to Queen Victoria. By ELIA KAY (writing in her blog Tiara a Day) In 1896, a year before her Diamond Jubilee, an inventory of Queen Victoria’s jewels was made by Garrard, the crown jeweler There weren’t many tiaras on the list — only five. But one of the five on the list was this one: the tiara given to her by the Aga Khan. The inventory describes the tiara as “A pearl and diamond tiara with 12 Bouton and 12 pear-shaped pearls with a diamond chain to form a necklace, presented by Aga Khan.” To my knowledge, there are no images, painted or photographed, of Victoria in this tiara. However, we do know that Victoria bequeathed the tiara to one of her daughters-in-law: Princess Louise of Prussia, the wife of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. His Highness the Aga Khan IV. The Aga Khan attends spectacular equestrian event “All the Queen’s Horses” celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee. On May 19, 2002, His Highness the Aga Khan, Mawlana Hazar Imam, joined with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, members of the Royal Family and Ambassadors of participating foreign and Commonwealth countriesto for a major equestrian spectacular featuring 1,000 horses and 2,000 participants. Entitled “All the Queen’s Horse” the event was staged in Windsor Great Park where mounted officers from Canada, India, Kenya and Pakistan joined contingents from other countries in a tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, as Head of the Commonwealth, on the 50th anniversary of her accession to the throne. The presence of the contingents from the four Commonwealth countries was made possible with the support of Mawlana Hazar Imam who noted that the “event serves to acknowledge the Commonwealth’s importance in maintaining relations among countries through both good and less good times in their shared history. The event honours the personal attention that Her Majesty the Queen has accorded to that history and the admirable manner in which she has exercised, and continues to exercise, the challenging role of Head of the Commonwealth.” It may be noted that Queen Elizabeth received her first racehorse called Astakhan as a wedding present from Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah in 1947. Astakhan went on to win a maiden at Hurst Park as a three-year-old in 1950. However, the Queen’s passion for flat racing developed after her accession to the throne in 1952. The Aga Khan accompanies Prince Charles to view AKDN projects in Northern Pakistan. Gifts abounded for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall as they ended their tour of Pakistan against possibly the world’s most spectacular mountain backdrop. In the Hunza Valley, in the small village of Altit, the prince was given a yak; the gift of a yak is the highest honour that can be bestowed on a VIP, in a tradition that dates back many centuries…The couple were accompanied during the day by the Aga Khan… Villagers had risked their lives climbing hundreds of feet up sheer rock face to spell out welcome messages in white stones which read: “Welcome the royal couple” and for the Aga Khan: “Welcome our H Imam and royal guests.” — compiled from The Daily Telegraph. On November 3, 2006, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were hosted by His Highness the Aga Khan on a tour of development projects in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. The Prince of Wales viewed restoration work undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in the traditional settlement of Altit, in the Hunza Valley of Pakistan. Their Royal Highnesses also visited the “organic village” of Nansoq, where a programme supported by the Aga Khan Foundation is designed to demonstrate the viability of organic agricultural production. Photo: AKDN.ORG. The Aga Khan welcomes Prince Charles to Cairo’s Al-Azhar Park. Queen Elizabeth hosts the Aga Khan at Buckingham Palace for his Golden Jubilee. Queen Elizabeth hosts the Aga Khan at Windsor Castle for his Diamond Jubilee. Court Circular. March 8. Buckingham Palace. The Queen gave a Dinner Party for The Aga Khan at Windsor Castle this evening to mark His Highness’s Diamond Jubilee at which The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke of York, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and Members of The Aga Khan’s Family were present. The Duke of Edinburgh this morning received Mr Martin Palmer (Secretary General, Alliance of Religions and Conservation). The Prince of Wales, on behalf of The Queen, held an Investiture at Buckingham Palace this morning. Note: The Court Circular is the official record of royal engagements and appears daily in the London Times. Prince Charles and the Aga Khan inaugurate the Aga Khan Centre in London’s King Cross. Your Highness, the extraordinary work that you have done throughout your lifetime, in the service of humanity and in the name of Islam, is as remarkable as it is invaluable. For that, you are owed the greatest debt of gratitude and I did just want to take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of us all, if I may…..It is clear to me that in holding dear the values of humility, honour, magnanimity and hospitality, the Ismaili Community takes its inspiration from you, Your Highness, and from your extraordinary “Greatness of Soul.” — Prince Charles, Aga Khan Centre Opening, June 26, 2018. In similarly inspiring this Centre, you have set it on a path to serve the world with great distinction, just as Your Highness has yourself done throughout your remarkable life. My wife and I have been fortunate enough to see just what an inspiration you are to your community when we accompanied you to Altit years ago. Never will we forget that occasion nor, for that matter, the magnificently shampoo-ed bull yak with which I was presented and which, very sadly, I was unable to transport back to Highgrove to graze in my Islamic Garden! — Prince Charles, Aga Khan Centre Opening, June 26, 2018. Prince Charles names the Aga Khan as Global Founding Patron of The Prince’s Trust’s work. We are immeasurably grateful to His Highness the Aga Khan for his contribution to our work and are delighted to welcome him as Global Founding Patron. — Dame Martina Milburn. Date posted: May 19, 2019 Last updated: April 9, 2021. Before departing this website, please click Barakah’s Table of Contents for links to more than 270 pieces dedicated to Mawlana Hazar Imam and his family. The Hilariously Botched Coronation Ceremony of Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria’s reign of 63 years was, until February 2017, the longest ever rule by a British monarch (now Queen Elizabeth II holds that honor). Yet however successful and glorious Victoria’s time on the throne might have been, her coronation was beset by disaster. When she was born, she stood fifth in line to the throne and an unlikely contender. However, her father along with his brothers and their heirs all died before William IV did on June 20, 1837, leaving Victoria as the next monarch. Queen Victoria aged 80, 1899. Victoria was 18-years-old at the time but it is reported that she conducted herself very regally and calmly. Despite being just 4ft 11 (not quite one and a half meters), she still managed to be seen and heard at the meeting of her privy council — even if she had to be seated on a raised platform to do it. A 1859 portrait of Queen Victoria by Franz Xaver Winterhalter. Her coronation was held on June 28, 1838, almost a year later. Victoria kept a journal and wrote on her coronation day: “I shall remember this day as the proudest of my life.” As it turned out, she had great cause to be proud since she managed to get through five hours of bungling and mistakes with the grace and patience of a true queen. Victoria’s journey to Westminster Abbey was witnessed by an astonishing number of people, since the opening of the railways made it easier for people to reach London. St. Margaret Church, Westminster Abbey in London, England. Since the ceremony was so long, the queen changed her outfit twice. When not required before the main altar, Victoria and others would retreat into St Edward’s chapel. She noted in her journal afterwards just how appalled she was to find it in such a state: “I then again descended from the Throne, and then repaired with all the Peers bearing the Regalia, my Ladies and Train-bearers, to St Edward’s Chapel, as it is called; but which, as Lord Melbourne said, was more unlike a Chapel than anything he had ever seen; for, what was called an Altar was covered with sandwiches, bottles of wine etc.” Sir George Hayter’s view of the coronation. Part of any coronation involves the placing of the crown on the monarch’s head. While this seemed to go without any mishap, problems arose when the Archbishop of Canterbury tried to put the Coronation Ring on the queen’s finger. The ring was sized for Victoria’s pinky finger but the Archbishop tried to force it onto her fourth finger. According to Carolyn Harris, a Toronto-based royal historian, poor Victoria really struggled to get the ring off after the ceremony and was forced to soak her hand in ice-water to try and reduce the swelling. Coronation of Queen Victoria by Edmund Thomas Parris. The Bishop of Durham apparently didn’t do much better since he gave her the ceremonial orb at the wrong moment. But the clergyman to make the gravest mistake had to be the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who accidentally turned over two pages of the Order of Service at once. Unfortunately, it was quite a crucial bit that he missed out, forcing him to call Victoria back so that he could do it again properly. Coronation of Queen Victoria by John Martin, depicting the Queen advancing to the edge of the platform to meet Lord Rolle. As part of the ceremony, peers of the realm were expected to come before the queen and pay their respects. Lord John Rolle was the largest landowner in Devon at the time and was 88 years old. As he started to ascend the steps toward the new queen, he not only fell over but rolled down the steps. Luckily, despite his infirmity, he was unhurt. He got himself up and started up the stairs again, determined to do his duty. Sir George Hayter’s coronation portrait of the Queen. Charles Greville, a diarist of the time, wrote of Victoria’s astonishing act of kindness upon seeing Rolle fall down: “[The Queen’s] first impulse was to rise, and when afterwards he came again to do homage she said, “May I not get up and meet him?” and then rose from the throne and advanced down one or two of the steps to prevent his coming up, an act of graciousness and kindness which made a great sensation. It is, in fact, the remarkable union of naiveite, kindness, nature, good-nature , with propriety and dignity, which makes her so admirable and so endearing to those around her. ” The crown made for Queen Victoria. Victoria might have been gracious, but others were not so kind-hearted. Poor Lord Rolle found himself not only the subject of a painting by John Martin the next year which depicted the event, but also included in a poem by the humourist poet, Richard Harris Barham. In Mr Barney Maguire’s Account of the Coronation, Barham penned the following verse: Then the trumpets braying, and the organ playing, And the sweet trombones, with their silver tones; But Lord Rolle was rolling; — t’was mighty consoling To think his Lordship did not break his bones! According to historian Roy Strong, Victoria’s coronation was the last in a long line of botched ceremonies, since the Victorians subsequently put together a programme that has been used ever since. With Victoria on the throne for 63 years, they certainly had a lot of time to plan the next one properly.