The demise of Britain’s longest reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II marks the end of an era. Insiders believe the Queen died a peaceful death at her Scottish estate. Aged 96 at the time of her passing, the Queen reigned over the UK and Northern Ireland for 70 years. Her son, Prince Charles takes on the mantle and becomes King with immediate effect.
Always known to be an intrepid traveler, Queen Elizabeth II paid several visits to India throughout her lifetime. Speaking of her experiences in the country, the Queen once reminisces, “The warmth and hospitality of the Indian people and the richness and diversity of India itself have been an inspiration to all of us.” That said, here’s taking a look at some of the unseen visuals from the Queens’ grand trips to India
A Visit To The Taj Mahal
The monarch visited India for the first time in 1961 after the country clocked 14 years of Independence. The highlights of the trip entailed visiting multiple cities, including Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata with ample time squeezed in for leisure. Quite like most tourists, the Queen had the iconic Taj Mahal on her travel checklist. She even addressed people at the Ramlila ground in Delhi during her stay in the capital.
A Ride To Remember
On another leg of her India tour, Queen Elizabeth II stopped by a village in Jaipur. The visit turned out to be an eventful affair as she reportedly made headlines after onlookers spotted her exploring the city on an elephant back alongside the Maharaja of Jaipur, Sawai Man Singh II. The duo reportedly went to Udaipur, where the monarch stayed over at the Maharaja’s royal household.
Visited India Again In 1983
The Queen’s trip to India in the year 1983 marked her third visit to the country. Accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, the royal couple was extended an invite by President Giani Zail Singh, and stayed over at an exclusive wing of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The Queen reportedly made arrangements to meet Mother Teresa in the capital during this visit, where she presented the celebrated social worker with the Insignia of the Honorary Order of Merit.
Visited The Jallianwala Bagh Memorial, Amritsar, Punjab
The Queen paid tributes at the venue and even addressed the ordeals that Indians had to go through due to colonial rule. It is believed that the Queen also paid a visit to the iconic Golden Temple in Amritsar on this trip.
Hosted By Three Of India’s Presidents
In 1963, the Queen was hosted by Dr. Radhakrishnan. A subsequent visit followed, roughly about two decades later, in 1990, after the then-president R Venkatrama invited the Queen over. Her most recent visit dates back to when Pratibha Patil presided over the nation in 2009. In an address, the monarch stated, “Britain and India have a long-shared history which today is a source of great strength in building a new partnership fit for this new century.”
Lead Image: The Royal Family/ Instagram
