1903 Delhi Durbar. Lord Curzon leading the elephant procession

1903 Delhi Durbar. A good stereoscopic card by Underwood & Underwood  titled “Grand Tusker” carrying Lord and Lady Curzon, grandest pageant of history, Durbar, Delhi, India. The photographs show the Viceroy and Lady Curzon in a ceremonial glittering howdah – the same one used by Lord Lytton at the 1877 Imperial Assemblage. The massive elephant was called Lachman and was loaned by the Maharaja of Benares for the occasion. The procession of this State Entry [29th December 1902] was just approaching the steps of the great mosque or Jama Masjid when this image was taken. On the second elephant one can quite clearly see the Duke of Connaught who went to Delhi in place of his brother King Edward VII who was unable to travel. Curzon as Viceroy took precedence over everyone in India except the King Emperor himself. feb9/1