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 a reign of terror, espionage, and retribution, intended to visit England to pay his respects to the aging Queen Victoria. However, his health prevented him from making the trip, and so instead, he sent his youngest son, Prince Shahzada Nasrullah Khan, to represent him in the court at Windsor Palace.

His aim was for Afghanistan to become an autonomous region, which would have allowed him to make foreign policy decisions and other matters regarding relations with countries surrounding Afghanistan. The Queen refused because of the expansionist ambitions of Czarist Russia. Russia could easily have invaded the crown jewel of Great Britain, India, by invading defenseless Afghanistan first. This was a risk she did not want to take.

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.