The Prince of Wales made the short journey from Benares to the old fort at Ramnagar just before sunset on 5 January 1876. His reception at Ramnagar by the Maharaja of Benares was probably the most spectacular of all the welcoming ceremonies throughout the Indian tour. The Prince was embarked in a galley with two carved seahorses at the bow which was towed by a steamer for four miles up the Ganges. The description of the veteran correspondent W.H. Russell conveys the atmosphere of the occasion: 'The river-bank was blazing with the twittering of feux de joie; the air lighted up by the discharges of artillery from the ancient parapets; the battlements of the fort were illuminated. Silver flambeaux and torches were held by people on parapets, walls and river-banks, which were as light as day. Preceded by mace-bearers, spearsmen, and banners, the Prince and the Maharaja were borne in gold and silver chairs, on men's shoulders, up the ascent from the river to the castle gate, between lines of matchlockmen and cavalry. Elephants, accompanied by wild music, marched on the left, shootee sowars rode on the right'. After further ceremonials within the fort itself, at which presentations were made, the Prince was led up to the roof to look down on the Ganges as thousands of tiny lamps floated down on the current in his honour.

The gift of the Raja of Ramnagar on this occasion was another example of the same form of dagger as another in the Royal Collection, presented to Edward VII by the Maharaja of Rutlam. In this case the setting of the jewels on the handle suggests a date around one hundred years later.

Catalogue entry from Royal Treasures, A Golden Jubilee Celebration, London 2002