Queen Victoria demands to tour India 1895

[Admiral Beez]

Telling her ministers and advisors to go sod themselves, Queen Victoria decides she wants to visit India, and in 1895 intends to accompany Abdul Karim on his return to India.

You're in charge of managing the visit, assuming a month in transit, two months in India and a month return trip. The lengthy transit assumes stops enroute to visit the empire, etc.

So, what are your plans for the visit? How do you keep Victoria safe? What sort of escort does Victoria's ship get?

Can Victoria's old yacht make it to India and back? HMY Victoria and Albert (1855) - Wikipedia If not, what to send? What if she wants to go the long way round, via Australia, NZ, Canada, and Caribbean?

 

[GreenKnight121]

So she is going to leave the UK in the middle of a General Election?
That was held 13 July - 7 August.

Such a trip needs to be scheduled around the Monsoon, and for a time when the heat is not so great. I'm not up to figuring all of that out, but it would be easier in a year without a nationwide election.

She spent March of 1895 on the French Riviera - her normally-scheduled annual vacation.

In 1896 Karim returned to India for a 6-month visit - this would be a better fit for a visit by the Empress of India.

I do question the state of V&AII for such a voyage... either another yacht (likely either of a British noble or of one of her Continental sons/daughters/nephews/neices), or one of the RN's larger warships - like a battleship or a new armoured cruiser - would be used.

 

[Admiral Beez]

So she is going to leave the UK in the middle of a General Election?
That was held 13 July - 7 August..... In 1896 Karim returned to India for a 6-month visit - this would be a better fit for a visit by the Empress of India.

Yes, it's Karim's 1896 trip to India, after the 1895 election that I had in mind. Queen Victoria decides to give him a lift.

I like the idea of using a battleship for her tour. A new Majestic class would suit.

"Rear-Admiral Arthur Alington's cabin on board his flagship, HMS 'Magnificent', 1896. Launched in 1894, 'Magnificent' was one of the 9 'Majestic' class battleships built by the Royal Navy. In 1895 she became second flagship of the Channel Fleet." Rear-Admiral Arthur Alington's cabin on board his flagship, HMS... News Photo - Getty Images

The stern walkway on RN predreadnoughts would offer welcome privacy to HM.

The only downside of the Majestic class for this role is the lack of a boardwalk around the ship, as shown on this 3D model.

04 HMS Majestic | 3D Warehouse

 

[Elmas]

Port Out, Starboard Home, that's for sure.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Man that's a nice cabin. BB would be the only way to travel.

 

[SaparotRob]

If you're going to travel, travel well.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Man that's a nice cabin. BB would be the only way to travel.

Did you see the dog sleeping on the rug in front of the coal fireplace? I'm sure at least one of Queen Victoria's prized pets would have come along. If you're the royal poop scooper you hope it's not one of the ponies.

I've always liked this pic of Admiral Fisher in this cabin aboard the predreadnought battleship HMS Renown.

I wonder where her man Karim will be swinging his hammock. Perhaps a low ranking lieutenant will be moved to make room, which may cause some racially-charged consternation. Then there's the Royal Marines who'll want an increased number and space for polishing and drills, and then there's the piper! Victoria isn't going anywhere without her Royal Piper and Gentleman Porter, from the 42nd Highlanders James Campbell.

 

[SaparotRob]

Did you see the dog sleeping on the rug in front of the coal fireplace? I'm sure at least one of Queen Victoria's prized pets would have come along. If you're the royal poop scooper you hope it's not one of the ponies.

I've always liked this pic of Admiral Fisher in this cabin aboard the predreadnought battleship HMS Renown.

View attachment 593518

I wonder where her man Karim will be swinging his hammock. Perhaps a low ranking lieutenant will be moved to make room, which may cause some racially-charged consternation. Then there's the Royal Marines who'll want an increased number and space for polishing and drills, and then there's the piper! Victoria isn't going anywhere without her Royal Piper and Gentleman Porter, from the 42nd Highlanders James Campbell.

..and that's how to travel.

 

[The Basket]

Most of the ships mentioned are not fully operational so a 1895 timeframe is a tight fit.

HMS Centurion fits nicely.

 

[Admiral Beez]

..and that's how to travel.

Those low freeboard predreadnoughts were very wet though, and the VIP cabin in the stern experiences the greatest vertical movement - one of the reasons beyond the obvious need for proximity to the command bridge that the captain and admiral usually have a sea cabin closer to amidships.

Here's a squadron of Royal Navy battleships working through some North Atlantic weather.

 

[SaparotRob]

Yeah but you got a luxury cabin you could troll for bluefish from. That's first class!

 

[Admiral Beez]

Yeah but you got a luxury cabin you could troll for bluefish from. That's first class!

It's interesting how the RN dropped the stern catwalk with HMS Dreadnought. But they were back later, here's HMS Revenge.

 

[nuuumannn]

Then there's the Royal Marines who'll want an increased number and space for polishing and drills, and then there's the piper! Victoria isn't going anywhere without her Royal Piper and Gentleman Porter, from the 42nd Highlanders James Campbell.

Hence the concept of the Royal Yacht. In case you haven't, head to Edinburgh and go visit HM Royal Yacht Britannia docked at Leith, it's a fascinating insight.

Transport by capital warship by senior figures was common. Churchill travelled to North America aboard the KG V Class battleships Prince of Wales and Duke of York, also the battlecruiser HMS Renown, and King George VI, his wife and two girls sailed aboard HMS Vanguard during a tour of the colonies after WW2.