Jharokha Darshan at the State Garden Party, 1911

Inscription in English (upper centre) ‘Delhi 1911. State Garden Party. 13^th December’; inscription in English (lower centre) ‘Their Imperial Majesties The King. Emperor & Queen Empress Showing themselves to the Crowds assembled for the People’s fête, below the walls of the Fort.’.

The Garden Party at the 1911 Durbar captures a memorable scene when their Majesties, King George V and Queen Mary, presented themselves at the historic Jharokha for a ceremony known as Darshan (sight), which had been popular during the Mughal period. This could be seen as a continuation of the  tradition initiated by Akbar, in order to legitimise British rule in India.