Royal Equerry to H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught in full dress uniform, late 19th century cdv

The carte de visite portrait by Maul & Fox, Photographers to the Royal Family, 187 Piccadilly, London shows the officer, identified on the verso in a contemporary hand as Col. Larking, three quarter length with his arm resting on a piece of furniture holding his cocked hat. The tunic is similar to that of an Aide de Camp, scarlet with blue facings, but it does not have the gold cords worn across the front and the gauntlet cuffs and in this case have four ornaments rather than the ADC’s three – these described in Dress Regulations as gold embroidered frog-drop loops. His sword is the general officer’s pattern but would have had different mounts on the langets. There are some annoying little spots on the card [possibly in the negative] but otherwise it is in good condition. dec19/1

Colonel Cuthbert Larkin [ 1842-1910] After serving in the 13th Light Infantry and the 15th Hussars, he Lieutenant Colonel of the 4th Bn. R. West Kent Regiment from 1877, being appointed Equerry to H. R. H. The Duke of Connaught -1881-1898]. His wife, Lady Adela [daughter pf the 2nd Earl of Listowel], was Lady of the Bedchamber to the Duchess of Connaught since 1879. He was later in the service of King Edward VII.

Provenance: This cdv was in an album put together by General Sir Peter Stark Lumsden, G.C.B., C.,S,I., A. D. C. We acquired this in a large archive of the general’s papers, documents, and photographs . Lumsden served almost his entire career in India but also had strong connections with Queen Victoria and his albums included many senior officers on both Royal and Viceregal Staffs.