Lord and Lady Curzon atop the elephant Lakshman Prasad, 29 December 1902

The Delhi Durbar of 1902-3 was conceived of by Lord Curzon to take place in December and January to celebrate the succession of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark to the throne of Emperor and Empress of India. The King and the Queen, however, did not attend the Durbar, but instead sent Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn to represent them. Many princes and chiefs of India were invited by Lord Curzon to participate in the ceremony. In this picture, we see not just the Viceroy of India and his wife, Lord and Lady Curzon, but also the majestic pachyderm Lakshman Prasad, lent from the stables of the Maharaja of Benares. Read March of the Mammoth, the Indian Elephant’s Story here.