What on Earth is a durbar room?

Henry Ponsonby

It's a celebration of all things Indian, Prime Minister, inspired by the Mughal emperors.

But I don't understand. Who gave her permission to build this in the first place?

Don't blame me, I was in Monte Carlo.

Henry Ponsonby

I'm afraid she's a law unto herself, Prime Minister.

For God's sake! She'll be wearing a burqa next.

Queen Victoria

Prime Minister, you are late.

I'm terribly sorry, Your Majesty.

Queen Victoria

Well, let us begin. This, as you can see, is the Indian corridor. The Durbar Room was designed by Mr. Bhai Ram Singh.

The place is crawling with them.

Queen Victoria

We have commissioned a series of portraits of eminent Indians. [shows them the portrait of Princess Gowramma] This... Princess Gowramma. [shows them a portrait of Abdul, with Abdul standing next to the portrait] And this of course, is the Munshi.

Abdul Karim

An honor to meet you, Mr. Prime Minister, sir.

Queen Victoria

A good likeness, don't you think?

Abdul Karim

I asked him to take a few pounds off. This is my wife, Mr. Prime Minister, sir. And that is my mother-in-law. At least I think that's the right way round. These are my servants, Mohammed and Ahmed.

Queen Victoria

And this is the Durbar Room.

What the hell is going on here, Ponsonby?

Queen Victoria

The carvings are from Uttar Pradesh, and the carpet was woven in a jail in Agra. Perfect, I think, for the tableau. But the piéce-de-resistánce is the Peacock Throne, an exact copy of the one at Agra, and, of course, the Koh-i-noor. Now I really do feel like the Empress of India.