Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 on Thursday, was the first British monarch to accede to the throne after India’s Independence from colonial rule in 1952 and admired the “richness and diversity” of India where she made three State Visits over the course of her reign – in 1961, 1983 and 1997.
In 1961, the Queen and her husband, the late Prince Phillip – Duke of Edinburgh, toured Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata – then Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta – and also visited the Taj Mahal in Agra and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat in New Delhi.
They were Guests of Honour at the Republic Day Parade on the invitation of the then President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, and an enduring image from the tour shows the Queen addressing a massive crowd of several thousand people packed into Ramlila Grounds in Delhi for her address, dressed in a fur coat and hat.
In 1983, her visit was in time for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and she famously presented Mother Teresa with an honorary Order of the Merit. Her final visit to India was to mark the 50th anniversary celebrations of India’s Independence and for the first time she made a reference to “difficult episodes” of colonial history.
(Text: PTI)
Queen Elizabeth along with Duke of Edinburgh arrived at Palam airport, New Delhi on January 21, 1961. Others seen (from left) are: Radhakrishnan, Vice President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President, Vijayalakshmi Pandit, Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India.
Her Majesty is all smiles as she gives away the Queen Elizabeth II stakes (Race I) to Mrs. Medhora whose Fair Babb won the prize. Unprecedented scenes of enthusiasm were witnessed at the Bombay Races when the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Mahaluxmi, Bombay in 1961.
Queen Elizabeth rides an elephant to attend the City Palace reception at Jaipur which she visited on January 22, 1961.
Queen Elizabeth is presented with a spinning wheel by Pyarey Lal, who was secretary to Mahatma Gandhi, when she went to Rajghat on January 21, 1961 to pay homage to Father of the Nation.
Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II cuts a cake on the first birthday of her son Prince Andrew at the reception given to her at Rajaji Hall in Madras on February 19, 1961.
Queen Elizabeth II visits Durgapur Steel Plant on February 17, 1961.
Queen Elizabeth visits the Mysore Arts and Crafts Emporium during her visit to Bangalore on February 21, 1961.
Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh leave the Taj Mahal in Agra which they visited on January 29, 1961
Queen Elizabeth II of Britain lays a wreath at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, Delhi on November 18, 1983
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, being received by the President, Zail Singh and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at Delhi airport on their arrival on November 17, 1983.
Queen Elizabeth II of Britain presents to Mother Teresa the Insignia of the Honorary order of merit, at Rashtrapti Bhavan, New Delhi on November 24, 1983.
Queen Elizabeth II visits Holy Trinity Church in Hyderabad on November 20, 1983.
Queen Elizabeth II of Britain visits the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla on November 21, 1983. Here, the Commandant of the Academy presents its crest to the Queen.
Queen Elizabeth II who visited Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited R&D complex at Balanagar in Hyderabad on November 19, 1983 is being explained the working of the parabolic solar energy collector by the BHEL Chairman, K. L. Puri.
In this file photo dated Oct. 13, 1997, Queen Elizabeth II is with former President K. R. Narayan during her ceremonial reception in Delhi
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, with Sonia Gandhi at a state banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on October 14, 1997
Queen Elizabeth at a banquet given in her honour in Chennai on October 16, 1997. Others in the picture are the State Governor Fathima Beevi and the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
On the sets of the film Marudanayagam, its director-actor Kamal Haasan (left) speaks to Queen Elizabeth II. Also seen are (from right): Om Puri, Naaser, costume designer and Kamal Haasan's wife Sarika and art director Sabu Cyril at the M.G.R. Film City in Madras on October 16, 1997.
Queen Elizabeth II exchangs pleasantries with the consular representatives in Chennai at a reception at "Cottingley", the official residence of the British Deputy High Commissioner, Sidney Palmer, on October 18, 1997.