Rattling the Jewel in the Crown

Rattling the Jewel in the Crown 

In 1895, the despotic Amir Abdul Rahman Khan, nicknamed ‘The Iron Amir,’ who had united Afghanistan through terror, espionage, and retribution, planned to visit England to pay his respects to the aging Queen Victoria. However, his health prevented him from making the trip, so he sent his youngest son, Prince Shahzada Nasrullah Khan, to represent him at court in Windsor.

His aim was to make Afghanistan an autonomous region, allowing him to make foreign policy decisions and manage relations with countries surrounding Afghanistan. The Queen refused because of Czarist Russia's expansionist ambitions. Russia could easily have invaded the crown jewel of Great Britain, India, by invading defenseless Afghanistan first. She did not want to take that risk.

Nasrullah, so upset and in defiance of Queen Victoria’s rejection, ordered his 100-plus men to take up arms and start shooting from every corner and window of Dorchester House, where they were staying. As a result, London descended into chaos, and the disgruntled Prince quickly left London disappointed and in disgrace.