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Indian Princess Raised at Buckingham Palace Became First Royal Convert to Christianity
🇮🇳 India /Culture & Society

Indian Princess Raised at Buckingham Palace Became First Royal Convert to Christianity

From Times of India · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Princess Gouramma of Coorg, an Indian royal, was brought to London in 1852 by her father to seek the return of ancestral wealth and a secure future.
  • She became the first Indian royal to set foot in England and was baptized into Christianity at Buckingham Palace, with Queen Victoria as her godmother.
  • Queen Victoria renamed her Victoria Gouramma and took an interest in her upbringing and social integration, including attempting to arrange a marriage.

Princess Victoria Gouramma, the daughter of the last Raja of Kodagu (Coorg), Chikka Veerarajendra, traveled to London in 1852 with her father. Deposed by the British in 1834, the Raja sought to reclaim his ancestral wealth and secure a future for his 11-year-old daughter under Christianity.

Their arrival in England marked a significant moment, as they were the first Indian royals to visit the country. The East India Company, hoping to improve its public image, permitted their journey. On June 30, 1852, Princess Gouramma was baptized in Queen Victoria's private chapel at Buckingham Palace. Queen Victoria herself stood as godmother, bestowing her own name upon the princess, who then became known as Victoria Gouramma.

Under the care of Major and Mrs Drummond, Victoria Gouramma received a Western education and was integrated into British society. Described as elegant and jovial, she was reportedly doted upon by the Queen. Queen Victoria also took an active role in her goddaughter's life, even attempting to arrange a marriage between her and Maharaja Duleep Singh, another of the Queen's godchildren. However, the match did not materialize, with the Maharaja considering Victoria his 'honorary sister.'

Victoria Gouramma's conversion to Christianity made her the first Indian royal to embrace the faith. Her story highlights the complex consequences of British imperialism, intertwining personal destinies with political and cultural shifts of the era.

He has come here with the intention of leaving his little girl, to be brought up as a Christian, which is a great step. […] The daughter […] is nearly 11, a dear, pretty little girl.

— Queen VictoriaWriting in her journal about the Raja's intention to have his daughter raised as a Christian.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Times of India in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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