Photograph of a three-quarter length portrait of Maharaja Raol Sir Takhtsinhji Jaswantsinhji GCSI KIH, Maharaja of Bhavnagar; standing, wearing turban, robes and the insignia of the Star of India. Signed and dated by the sitter on the mount.

Takhtsinhji Jaswantsinhji was awarded the Empress of India Gold Medal in 1877, and knighted as a KCSI in 1881. In 1886, he was promoted to GCSI, and in 1890 his hereditary title of Thakur was raised to that of Maharajah. He travelled to London for the opening of the Imperial Institute and received an audience with Queen Victoria on 5 May 1893. She recorded in her journal: ‘After luncheon received in the Audience Room the Maharajah of Bhavnagar, who is come over for the opening of the Imperial Institute. He is about 30, very tall & stout, speaks English fluently. He was most friendly & seems sensible.’