Photo: Courtesy
A revelation by London-based historian and journalist Levin Odhiambo Opiyo has revived debate about one of the British monarchy’s most controversial relationships — that between Queen Victoria and her young Indian aide, Abdul Karim.
Karim arrived in England in 1887 at the age of 24. Officially, he had been recruited to serve as a clerk to the Queen during her Golden Jubilee celebrations.
But what began as a routine royal assignment soon evolved into a deeply personal bond that unsettled the British establishment.
At the time, Queen Victoria was 68 years old.
Within a short period, Karim had risen beyond clerical duties to become one of the monarch’s closest companions.
The intimacy of their relationship caused unease within the Royal Household.
Senior courtiers struggled to accept that a young Indian man could gain such influence over the sovereign, particularly in an era defined by rigid racial hierarchies and imperial attitudes.
According to Opiyo, Karim embraced his elevated status without restraint.
He secured one of the finest rooms in the palace for his own use and distanced himself from other Indian staff, considering himself above them.
His growing confidence occasionally spilled into open defiance.
During the wedding of one of the Queen’s granddaughters, Karim reportedly walked out after being assigned a seat among servants rather than dignitaries.
Palace officials frequently raised concerns about his conduct, but Victoria consistently shielded him.
She is said to have rebuked aides who criticised Karim, insisting it was unjust to cause him distress.
One episode further strained relations within the palace. In June 1889, Karim’s brother-in-law, Ali, allegedly stole one of the Queen’s brooches during a visit.
When confronted, Karim told the Queen that Ali had simply found the brooch and that, in Indian custom, one could keep what was found.
Victoria accepted the explanation and dismissed allegations raised by her senior courtiers.
The relationship remained a source of gossip and resentment. Reports of the pair spending time alone in a remote Highland cottage only intensified speculation.
Karim’s fortunes changed abruptly in 1901 following the Queen’s death.
Her successor, King Edward VII, ordered Karim’s immediate return to India and directed that all correspondence between him and his mother be destroyed.
The move was widely seen as an attempt to erase evidence of a relationship that had troubled the monarchy.
Opiyo notes that Victoria’s personal writings suggest she held warm views toward people of colour.
In one journal entry, she described a black man she encountered in Germany as “tall, dark and handsome” — a remark that continues to draw historical interest.