2020-01-01 Wed

Today in the year 1877, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom is proclaimed Empress of India. At the grand Darbar held at Allahabad, Lord Canning sent forth the royal proclamation which announced that the Queen had assumed the governance of India.

The East India Company was ruling the large areas of India with its own private armies, exercising military power and assuming administrative functions since the early 1600s. However, the First War of Indian Independence of 1857 hampered the British foundations and hence a need for a stronger and responsible administration was felt.

India was already under crown control after 1858, but this title was a gesture to link the monarchy with the empire further and bind India more closely to Britain. The Royal Titles Bill was brought before Parliament in 1876. It faced opposition from Liberals who feared that the title was synonymous with an absolutism. Queen Victoria opened Parliament in person, the first time since the death of Prince Albert, to announce the change in royal title.

Hence the first day of the year 1877 rose with the Royal Announcement of the change in royal title. Queen Victoria has been proclaimed as Empress of India led by the Viceroy, Lord Lytton. The coins, stamps, and currency notes that bore the East India Company title were accordingly changed and inscribed Queen Victoria’s name only.

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