A descendant of one of Queen Victoria’s most trusted confidants has told how his great-great-grandfather introduced the monarch to Indian culture.
Abdul Karim was handpicked to help Queen Victoria learn about her Indian territories in the late 19th century.
He served as her Royal servant for 15 years and their extraordinary friendship is the subject of a new movie, Victoria and Abdul, starring Dame Judi Dench as the lonely queen.
The British-American film portrays Victoria first meeting 24-year-old Abdul in 1887, when he presents her with a commemorative coin at a Golden Jubilee banquet when she is 60.
Nabeel Syed, 36, from Leicester is the great-great grandson of Abdul Karim
Queen Victoria with her loyal and trusted confidant Abdul Karim at Balmoral in 1890
Pictured from left: Sir Henry Ponsonby, Abdul Karim, Beatrice, Princess Henry of Battenberg, Mohammed Bukhsh, Miss Moore at Osborne House in January 1888
Despite their 36-year age gap the movie shows her becoming increasingly besotted with Abdul, who has been sent over as her ‘gift’.
Hundreds of letters sent to Abdul by Victoria, many signed ‘Your dearest friend’ were destroyed after her death in 1901.
His great-great-grandson Nabeel Syed, 36, inherited a remarkable collection of black-and-white photographs of Abdul and Queen Victoria after researching his family tree.
The financial advisor from Leicester, said: ‘I only really learned much about Abdul Karim in the past two or three years.
‘I’m honoured to have that connection because Queen Victoria left such a legacy and is one of our most famous monarchs.
‘He helped the Queen understand Indian culture, he taught her Urdu and introduced her to Indian curry and fruit and other foods.
‘Despite their age gap, their relationship was very close and it is suggested there may have been a romantic connection but we don’t know for sure.
From left Abdul Karim, Princess Marie and Victoria Melita of Edinburgh, Duke of Connaught, Queen Victoria, Beatrice, Princess Henry of Battenberg (and back roow), S. Maslin, Princess Alix of Hesse, Princess Alexandra of Edinburgh, Princess Irene of Hesse, Mohammed Bukhsh all enjoying breakfast at Osborne House in August 1887
Left, A letter appointing Abdul Karim a Commander and right, A letter written in Urdu by Queen Victoria
Khairt Ali, Princess Alix of Hesse, Abdul Karim, Beatrice, Henry of Battenberg, Mohammed Bukhsh, Princess Louise of Wales and Ahmed Husain at Balmoral in 1888
From left: Ahmed Husain, Adbul Karim, Beatrice, Princess Henry of Battenberg, Queen Victoria at Balmoral in the 1880s
‘He was teaching her about the culture and educated her in respect of the Koran and things like that, as well.
‘He was a teacher, he obviously went there as a servant to start off with but they got very close and Queen Victoria trusted him.
‘He taught her more about the Indian culture, the etiquette behind everything, started teaching her about the language Urdu.
‘She actually wrote him a little letter in Urdu and wrote in English underneath.
‘She gave him a bible. On a letter dated May 12, 1888, she wrote: ‘Hafiz Abdul Karim this is the book from you, from Victoria.’
‘That was passed to him. I understand he was also teaching the Queen the Koran as well.
‘At the time not all the establishment were too happy about it, from what I’ve read, but among other things that’s what he was doing and helping the Queen.
‘He was actually made Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, to ‘Munshi Hafiz Abdul Karim.”
Queen Victoria and Abdul Karim at the old Garden Cottage at Balmoral in 1895
From left: Ahmed Husain, Miss Moore, Miss Cochrane, Mohammed Bukhsh, Abdul Karim, Mrs Campbell at Balmoral in 1888
Abdul Karim with his nephew Mohammed Abdul Raschid, pictured together in 1897
Nabeel’s mother’s great-grandfather Hazif Muhammad Abdul Aziz (pictured) was Abdul’s brother
Nabeel’s parents Sultana and Ijaz Syed, who live in Nottingham, travelled to Windsor Castle several years ago to view the collection of photographs of Abdul with Victoria.
Nabeel said: ‘There are pictures of Queen Victoria and Abdul Karim dressed up in very elaborate clothes and also the Queen signing documents while Abdul Karim stands at her side.
‘I’m told that after they became good friends, the Queen ordered that all the pictures that showed him serving tea, and things like that, be destroyed.’
Nabeel is going to view the movie, which comes out in UK cinemas on Friday, September 15.
Mr Syed is now looking forward to watching the Hollywood blockbuster about his great-great-grandfather’s life
Dame Judi Dench as the lonely queen and Ali Fazal in the movie, Victoria and Abdul
The British-American film portrays Victoria first meeting 24-year-old Abdul in 1887, when he presents her with a commemorative coin at a Golden Jubilee banquet when she is 60
He said: ‘I’m definitely looking forward to watching the film.
‘When I saw the trailer online I shared it on Facebook and let everyone know that was my great-great-granddad so that got quite a lot of attention, which was nice.
‘It would have been nice to get tickets to the premiere but I don’t think that will happen so we will go down in our own time and watch it – but I am definitely looking forward to it.’
Nabeel’s mother’s great-grandfather Hazif Muhammad Abdul Aziz was Abdul’s brother.
The film also stars Ali Fazal, Olivia Williams, Michael Gambon, Simon Callow and Eddie Izzard, and is directed by Stephen Frears.