A diary showing how Queen Victoria learned to write Hindustani under the tutelage of her Indian servant Abdul Karim will go on display to the public for the very first time at Osborne House, English Heritage has announced today (Friday).
Dating from 1895, the incredibly rare diary, lent by Her Majesty The Queen from the Royal Archives, shows Urdu characters in the Queen’s own handwriting, above Abdul Karim’s careful instruction. It will go on display at Osborne – where the Queen spent many hours with her ‘Munshi’ (teacher) Abdul Karim – alongside 2 signed photographs of Abdul at Osborne, also on display for the first time.
Michael Hunter, English Heritage’s Curator at Osborne, said:
“This diary gives an intimate glimpse into the relationship of Queen Victoria and Abdul Karim. It’s fascinating to see this elaborate script in her own handwriting, and the painstaking way that Abdul set out the lessons.
“Queen Victoria was incredibly curious about India and its traditions, so to learn Hindustani and write in Urdu was a hobby to which she remained faithful almost up to her death in 1901. It’s an honour to have the diary back where it would originally have been written, to be returned home to Osborne once more.”
The story of Queen Victoria’s relationship with Abdul Karim is told in ‘Victoria & Abdul’, also released today, starring Dame Judi Dench as Queen Victoria and Ali Fazal as Abdul Karim. Much of ‘Victoria & Abdul’ was shot on location at Osborne, including scenes in Queen Victoria’s sitting room where she wrote her journals under Abdul’s watchful eye and the Durbar Room, where the diary will be displayed.
Costumes worn by Dame Judi Dench, Eddie Izzard and Ali Fazal in the forthcoming feature film ‘Victoria & Abdul’ are also currently on display in the Durbar Room until 30th September.
