ORIENTAL SPLENDOUR

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 143, 21 June 1929, Page 13

ORIENTAL SPLENDOUR

INDIAN PRINCES IN LONDON

Picturesque Indian princes, some wrth their wives and children, have lately been adding.to the romance and glamour of Lonaon; says an English exchange. ..,..'. The numbers arriving and the magnificence of their regalia this season is expected to eclipse all previous years for two reasons.. Firstly, the wellknown Indian rulers who visit England regularly are to be augmented by many who came for the first time last year in the special deputation of Indian princes.. Secondly, they all wish to show their loyalty to the King-Emper-or ana convey their wishes for his safe ! recovery by means of a personal visit. Many of the princes are making Lonaon their heaaqUarters for the season,) and one at least—the Gaekwar of Baroda—is hiring a Mayfair house. He ranks high among the worla's richest men, and although he wears few ornaments his State jewellery is worthy of Aladdin's cave anc."valued at several millions of poundj. Other potentates arranged to stay at the London ' hotels, where they hire not mere suites of rooms, but whole floors. The hotels have made special strong rooms to accommodate the h6ayy iron boxes containing the choice" jewels which the princes take with them.. One visitor is expected to have many thousands of pounds' worth.of jewels conveyed in portable safes disguised as red morocco attache cases. Modern diamonds in modern settings, ruby aigrettes, collars of pearls—each bead theenvy of London jewellers—are to "be brought to him to London, as well as gems which for years "had never seen the light of day. ' .- ' . "Not all the visitors-travel with a large retinue. Several Indian princes have found that one English valet can do the work of thirty Indian servants, 1 each of whom is only assigned one duty," said an aide-de-camp. "By cutting dows their staff, too, they avoid the difficulties of feeding aid lodging which arise through the Indian caste system." Among the Maharajahs who are expected in London are the Maharajah of Alwar, the Maharajah.of .Burdwan, and the Maharajah of Patiela, who is chancellor of the Chamber of Princes.' The ex-Maharajah . of Indore, who married Miss Nancy Miller, the American gold-miner's daughter; are also in the list. '." . . ' \. : Others_ expected are the Maharajah, of Eajpipla—who hates unnecessary ceremony and goes to England for the weather—and the.Maharajah of Keurthala.