The 200th birth anniversary of Queen Victoria, the Empress of India during the British Raj era, will be marked with a special exhibition that explores her complex love affair with the country that was her colony.
'Victoria: Woman and Crown' opens at Kensington Palace in London next Friday, 200 years since her birth on May 24, 1819 at the same palace as Princess Victoria.
"Her complex love affair with India will form one of the central themes, from the forced Anglicisation of a deposed Maharaja (Duleep Singh) in the 1850s to her personal appointment of an Indian Secretary (Abdul Karim) in 1888," Historic Royal Palaces said in a statement, announcing the bicentenary exhibition.
As the former ruler of the Sikh Empire, deposed during the Anglo-Sikh wars with the annexation of Punjab under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, his son Maharaja Duleep Singh was exiled to Britain, where he was first introduced to Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace.
After this meeting, the Queen described the young Maharajah in her journal as "16 & extremely handsome...(he) has a pretty, graceful & dignified manner. He was beautifully dressed & covered with diamonds".
The meeting is believed to have kicked off a lifelong interest in Singh and his family, with Victoria acting as godmother to his daughter Sophia, and offering his children "grace and favour" accommodation at Hampton Court Palace following his death.
"Examples of the Maharajah's opulent wardrobe go on display at Kensington Palace for the first time, alongside a portrait of Duleep Singh commissioned by Victoria from one of her favourite artists," noted Historic Royal Palaces.
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The other Indian connect explored as part of the exhibition is the role played by Victoria's Indian servant Abdul Karim, on whom the Queen bestowed the title of "Munshi" or teacher.
Their close friendship has been captured in 'Victoria and Abdul: The Extraordinary True Story of the Queen's Closest Confidant' by London-based author Shrabani Basu and was recently also adapted for the screen with Dame Judi Dench taking on the role of Queen Victoria.
Under the Munshi's tutelage, the monarch learned to read and write Urdu and one of her diaries carefully inscribed in the language form one of the star items of the display, set alongside items showcasing Victoria's relationship with her Empire.
Polly Putnam, exhibition curator at Historic Royal Palaces, said: "Although considered one of the most famous women in history, Queen Victoria's personality, passions and politics remain little known.
"To mark the 200th anniversary of her birth at Kensington Palace, this year we'll be re-examining the life of this fascinating and contradictory monarch, whose cultural legacy and impact on world affairs are still felt to this day."
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