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Letter to Bertie (Prince Albert), from a mysterious friend

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Letter to Bertie (Prince Albert), from a mysterious friend

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Dear Albert, Prince of Wales

You asked me a few days ago if I could make the Queen hate her Indian servant. Indeed, I think I have some ideas to expel him from the castle, and you’ll be finally able to regain your place.

Our last plan, which was to write a false letter from the Munshi to his brother, in which obscenities about the queen would be written in order to be intercepted, failed. So we have to find something more subtle.

I think we are not barbarian enough to threaten him. We are civilized people ! So here is my plan :

We should pay guards to imitate the voice and accent of the Munshi for the first, and to play his friend for the second. They will be in a closed room next to her Majesty, and speak and laugh loudly of the queen. When she will realize what is happening, the fake Abdul will say « Oh no, someone's coming, how can we get out ?» And the second «The window, quick !». Therefore, when the guards of the Queen will break the door open, they won't see anyone, because a rope will have been ready before for the flee of the guards.

What do you think about that ?

I am looking forward to receiving your permission letter,

***

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08/12/1887
Dear Diary

After a hard crossing by boat, then on horseback I arrived at Windsor Castle.
At  Windsor castle, I was very well received and I went in the big dining room and a very well-dressed gentleman showed me what I had to do during the meal to serve the Queen and her guests .

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24/01/1901
I felt bad when my friendship with the Queen ended, when I was chosen I would never have thought to live such a story.13 years of life in Buckingham, I did not have a feeling of freedom although I was free from my travels and free to see my family in India . Despite being a strong character and being in power she was goog company and  it was so interesting to have a dialogue with a cultivated and influential person about England and to be respected by this person who was the Queen Victoria

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06/05/1888
My dear wife,

Since I left, I think about you every day. Here I fit in well, even though a lot of people don't like me. I got closer to the Queen, I have become her Munshi and love teaching her about our culture. Since I arrived the Queen's son wants to make me go, I don't know how to react but the Queen trusts me and I hope you can meet her soon.

See you soon, my love.

(Queen Victoria with Abdul during their Urdu course)

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Princess Helena, in real life.

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Letter from Bertie (Prince Albert) to the Munshi 

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Letter from Bertie (Prince Albert) to the Munshi 

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02/25/1890
Dear Abdul,
You are maybe close to the Queen but you are nothing except a Hindu. You must return in your country. She must not be with a stranger everyday.
Regards
Albert, Prince of Wales

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A walk between Abdul and the Queen

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Conversation between Bertie (Prince Albert) and Princess Helena, his sister

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Conversation between Bertie (Prince Albert) and Princess Helena, his sister

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Bertie: Try to understand Helena, we have to destroy this enemy because he is bad for our mom, it's in her interest.
Helena: I understand your point of view, but you can try to understand also that is not necessarily a bad idea to become friend with an Indian. An Indian is not necessarily bad. I know he scares you because he is different, but he can provide new knowledge and culture, that we do not have. Mom knows what she does, don't you understand that she insists staying with him? It's for a reason, and this reason is than this Indian provides something to our mom.

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22/01/1901
My dear Queen Victoria,

It all started with a look.
When I came, my friend was with me, today if I am writing this letter it is because you left for a better world and unfortunately my friend too. I don't know how my life will end here but I know that I enjoyed my trip to you. I was able to teach you my native language, the Koran, to show you my country through my stories. Now that you are gone I will miss all of this.
It all ended in words.
See you soon,

Your Munshi.

("No eye contact") between Abdul and Queen Victoria.

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Dialogue between Queen Victoria and Abdul 

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Dialogue between Queen Victoria and Abdul 

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First meeting between the Queen and Abdul :
The Queen : "Who are you ?"
Abdul : "Excuse me your Majesty, I'll introduce myself, my name is Abdul."
The Queen : "Oh yes, you are the new servant."
Abdul : "Yes, indeed, I'm here to serve your Majesty"
The Queen : "I'm happy to hear it, welcome among us"
Abdul : "Thank you, would you want me to bring you something ?"
The Queen : "Come with me, I wish to go into the garden to enjoy the good weather."

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Dialogue between a lady of the court and her husband

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Dialogue between a lady of the court and her husband

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"-Well, my dear, you don't look well !" said Morticia Vulture.

"-I'm a butler of the Queen. And the Hindu is a thief. He's stealing my employment" said John Vulture.

"-You're not exaggerating a bit, are you?"

John got mad and raised his voice:
"-Oh, you think so? Are you asking me to be more clement ?!"  says he. "Moreover, he is so unsightly. He isn't elegant as a French person, he doesn't have the charm of an Italian man, and he is without any good manners like British people. So where are his qualities? In what is he better than us, faithful butlers?"

"-Well my dear, show that you're English with your "good manners" and be more respectful to honor your nationality! He's still a human being!" his wife replied.

"-Yes, a human coming from a colony! You're too naive, you always defend those who are inferior!"

"- If the Queen accepts and respects him, you must do the same. Would you dare to contradict the Queen?"

John didn't know what to answer. He ended the conversation by slamming the door.

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Conversation between the Queen and her daughters

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Conversation between the Queen and her daughters

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Princess Helena : "Mom, we have learned you have a new servant and we think he could have a bad influence on you."
Queen Victoria : "What makes you say that?"
Princess Alice : "er... He has too much influence on you, he follows you everywhere and his opinion means too much to you."
Princesse Helena : "Moreover he is not even from the court."
Queen Victoria : " It doesn't matter, he is my friend and my confident. In addition he is from a very good family and he helps us a lot here."
Princess Helena : " But he's an Indian!!"
Princess Alice : "He’s gonna steal us!!"
Queen Victoria : "That’s not the education you were given... Stop judging, ladies, stop judging!"

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Letter from a child to his mother, back in India 

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Letter from a child to his mother, back in India 

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04/25/1895

Dear Mom,
Today we arrived in Britain. It's a big land, the castle is very big and very beautiful, it is impressive. Abdul introduced me  to the royal family. The Queen is impressive, she scares me. The Prince, Bertie, is an idiot. He is all tight in his clothes and still thinks he knows everything. The court is scared of us, Indian people, Abdul says they are afraid of what they do not know.
I miss India and you mom.
I'll write to you next week.
Love from
Ahmed
( I enclosed a picture of Abdul and Mohammed)

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Bertie : "You are just a servent, nothing more. Go back to your Indian countryside, the queen doesn't need you !"
Abdul : "Yes I know that but I'm intelligent and I can make choices."
Bertie : "For the queen you are only a servant, it is she who chooses what you do."
Abdul : "I am more than a servant I am her Munshi, well, and I'm her confident."
Bertie : "Mother has no confident and she will never have a confident. She doesn't even trust her family, why would she trust a little Indian servant ?"

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Today I arrived in Britain. It's a big land, the castle of the Queen is very big and very beautiful.
There are so many servants in the castle.
The journey was very long, we left Kathmandu on the 6th of May of their calendar and we only arrived today, the 18th of August.
Here in England it is always raining, yet August is supposed to be the season of good weather in this country.

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09/05/1900

My dear Queen

When I came in England  , I was really  terrified. I was not sure if I would stay here a long time. But when I met you , it was just extraordinary.
Now ,  I would like to return  to Indian just  for a month ,  because , as you know , I have a family and I haven't seen my wife for a long time. I miss her so !
However , I like England so , I'll be back soon.

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Dear Abdul,
As you know, I'm getting old and to maintain your protection after my death, I would like you to go back to your country. I am sure you'll blame me for "ejecting you" from England, but I'm scared that Bertie will hurt you. So please hear reason and be careful with Bertie. When I am 80 years old, I would like you to return in your country. After the bad news, I have a good information for you : I am living the last years of my reign and as you know I have to manage a million things in my kingdom which implies a lot of loneliness and it affects my morale. So I have decided to appoint you royal confident.
I'm looking forward to seeing you.
Kind regards, Victoria.

Victoria and Abdul

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Entry from Bertie's diary (Bertie is the Prince of Wales)

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Entry from Bertie's diary (Bertie is the Prince of Wales)

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05/05/1895
Dear Diary,
I don't understand my mom because she loves being with the Munshi, but I found he has no education, he comes from India and people who come from India are just good for the colonies, why would this servant be an exception? Some people say I am racist, but I don't understand their reactions, this Indian scares me and it's not normal, for me, that he becomes the friend of the Queen! I'm her son, and I'm not as friendly with my mom as he is. I found this is unfair and not normal, especially for an Indian servant.
See you soon.

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Diary of Harriet Phipps, (Lady-in-waiting for the Queen))

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Diary of Harriet Phipps, (Lady-in-waiting for the Queen))

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04/03/1862

Dear diary,
Today we are March 4, 1862, and I am actually Queen Victoria's Lady-in-waiting since yesterday (it was march 3, 1862). I am very, very proud and happy for inheriting this title ! Can't wait to start working for the Queen, tomorrow will be my first day, and I think it will be fabulous. Oh, I guess I'm too happy, but sincerely...I love my new life, it's such an honor.
I will always do my best and fulfill my role to perfection.
See you soon, dear diary.

04/03/1863
Dear diary,
It is March, 1863, I have been in the service of Queen Victoria for 1 year. I have changed a lot since my first day, I assert myself more and more and I have more confidence in me, and in the judgment of my Queen. Queen Victoria trusts me, she entrusts me with missions for her, and secrets that she only shares with me. Whatever happens, I won't disappoint her, it's an oath.
Goodbye, my dear diary.

(Painting by John Lavery, representing Harriet Phipps in 1889)