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An affair between Queen Victoria and her waiter Abdul Karim
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by Richard Drewmore | May 30, 2008 at 08:45 am
764 views | 5 Recommendations | 9 comments
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An affair between Queen Victoria and her waiter Abdul Karim
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She was the Queen of Great Britain. He was a dining room waiter in India. The story of a 'love affair' between Queen Victoria and Hafiz Abdul Karim aka Munshi has fascinated historians. They say he was very handsome and polite. The moment Queen Victoria saw him she fell for him. She got him transferred from India to London and promoted him to her 'Indian Secretary'. He taught her Urdu and recited the legendary poet Ghalib. She asked the Austrian painter Rudolf Swoboda to draw a portrait of Abdul Karim, writes Pervaiz Alam about a film "Queen Victoria's Men" that captures glimpses of Karim-Victoria story.
Victoria’s Men presents a seldom-seen side of Queen Victoria, both in childhood and then as a young queen. Through diaries and letters it explores the way her early life shaped the intense and complex relationships she was to have with men throughout her political and private life, says Channel 4.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (9)
at 10:31 on May 30th, 2008
I'm really looking forward to seeing this. Monday 2nd June, 9.00, Channel 4, for those who are interested.
at 05:25 on May 31st, 2008
Richard Drewmore, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 13:25 on August 20th, 2008
I can't believe that channel 4 would even contemplate saying that QV and the Munshi were anything other than Queen-Empress and her Munshi. Hazif Abdul karim was a 24 year old servant who was given to the Empress of India Queen Victoria as a gift from India along with another servant. Yes he rose in rank in her court, but all the history books I have read about Queen Victoria I don't remember ever there been a mention of any such thing. Queen Victoria was like a mother to Abdul, he was not liked at court and at the end of his service he was found to be bullying the Queen and she was almost afraid of him. Read the book "Ask Sir James" which has a full chapter on The Munshi. Munshi was promptly put on the first boat back to Agra in India where he lived until his death in 1909. There is a cottage in Balmoral called "Karim Cottage" where he lived when the court were in Balmoral and other cottages scattered throughout the UK at royal residences. Just to finish. when Abdul karim came to court Victoria was about 60 years old or older
at 04:35 on January 29th, 2009
btw i am Abdul Karim's great grandson ...
at 06:42 on May 26th, 2009
I would like to discuss this story with you
at 21:56 on June 21st, 2009
The Munshi did not have any children.
at 21:57 on June 21st, 2009
The Munshi did not have any children that are known of.
at 05:17 on April 4th, 2009
It is widely known that many of Victoria's secrets died with her and that Abdul Karim immediately burned ALL their correspondence. Why would he feel the need to do so?
It is also widely known that she had a very jealously guarded relationship with her Munshi and defended him against all comers.
Why would she single out ONE man in her huge coterie of servants for such special treatment?
Lastly, name one other servant of QV who was detained and then shipped out of Britain on the next boat after her death. Name one.
Why do you think the powers that were felt the need to get her Munshi out of England the second her protection lapsed?
at 21:54 on June 21st, 2009
The Munshi did not burn all the correspondence. He was made burn them and the new Kings wife Queen Alexandria stood by the bonfire while it was been done. He did not do it voluntary.
He went back to India with other servants from his family.they were all shipped back.