Abdul Karim, Osborne House, East Cowes, Isle of Wight
This is a photograph from an album at Osborne House titled "Royal Tableaux, Osborne ". It has the caption "Munshi Abdul Karim". The queen had had two Indian servants, Abdul Karim and Mohammed Buksh, brought over to England in 1887. Karim began to teach her Hindi, hence the title 'Munshi', which means teacher in Hindi. Karim went on to become one of the queen's closest confidents and advisers. She also allowed his wife to come over from India to join him. He became Indian Secretary to Queen Victoria in 1892 and remained so until her death in 1901. Find out more.
