Edward Prince of Wales' Tour of India: Bombay, Poona, Baroda, Jodhpur and Bikaner (1922)

Part of India on Film: 1899 – 1947
This collection of newly digitised films is part of the BFI's contribution to the UK-India Year of Culture 2017, in partnership with the British Council. View more films on BFI Player http://player.bfi.org.uk/collections/... (UK only)


The future Edward VIII visits his Empire, with Indian royalty, elephants, palaces and temples.

Ten years after King George V's Coronation Durbar in India, the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), extensively toured India and Burma (Myanmar). The Prince of Wales is welcomed at the Gateway of India in Bombay (Mumbai) with a guard of honour, and received by Indian royalty at a durbar. He visits Poona (Pune), the Gaekwad of Baroda, and Rajput royalty in Udaipur, amid spectacular palaces and elephants. He meets the Maharaja of Jodhpur and goes on a pig-sticking hunt; finally, he visits the Maharajah of Bikaner, amid the Camel Corps.

The Prince's India visit seems intended to familiarise him with the outposts of Empire - often more resplendent and exotic than back home - to underline his power over Indian royalty, and get a taste of Indian hospitality. The scenes of pig-sticking and child marriage may be troubling to modern viewers. The intertitles are deferential to British royalty, sometimes with patronising comments on the natives. This is one of a series of films shot during the tour by George Woods-Taylor; a compilation film was released under the title Our Greatest Ambassador.


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