Judi Dench is stepping back into the shoes of Queen Victoria in Focus Features’s biographical drama Victoria and Abdul. While not much was previously known about Victoria’s Indian attendant Abdul Karim (played by Ali Fazal), the film is shedding new light on his close bond with the queen, the royal court’s disapproval of their friendship, and the lasting impression Victoria had on him before her death.
Keep reading for the fascinating true story of Queen Victoria and her “Munshi” Abdul.Humble Beginnings
According to Shrabani Basu, the historian who uncovered Abdul’s personal diary, the two first met during the Golden Jubilee in 1887, where Abdul served as one of the queen’s Indian servants. He and the other servant, Mohamed Buxshe, were meant to “facilitate communication with Indian dignitaries and wait on the queen” during the celebration that marked the 50th anniversary of her accession. In Victoria’s diary, she described Abdul as being “tall with a fine serious countenance” during their first encounter.
The Start of a Friendship
Following the Jubilee, the two men traveled with Victoria to her Summer home on the Isle of Wight. It was there that Abdul wowed the queen with his impressive…
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