Jewel in the crown of love

by NADEEM BADSHAH

WILL YOUNG ROYALS EXPLORE INDIA’S TOP ATTRACTIONS DURING THEIR HONEY

PRINCE Harry and the Duchess of Sussex are set to join the thousands of Britons who jet off to see the Taj Mahal in India as part of a tour, according to royal insiders.

The couple are believed to be considering going to see some of the seven wonders of the world along with a honeymoon in Alberta, Canada.

Friends of the newlyweds, who married in a star-studded ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Wind­sor in May, claim they want to take in the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Colosseum in Rome, the pyramids of Egypt and the architecture in Petra, Jordan.

A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents told Eastern Eye: “Around 250,000 people from the UK go on holiday to India each year and a high percentage of these visit the Taj Mahal.

“It is one of the world’s greatest and most beauti­ful buildings and as it was built as a tribute to a lost wife, it is especially popular with honeymooners.”

Harry’s mother Diana, Princess of Wales, was fa­mously photographed outside the Taj Mahal sitting alone in 1992 during her marriage to Prince Charles. The bench she sat on is known as Lady Di’s Chair.

Prince William and his wife the Duchess of Cam­bridge ended their tour of India in 2016 with a visit to the monument, and were pictured seated to­gether on the same bench.

Nikita Sud is an associate professor in the De­partment of International Development at the Uni­versity of Oxford. She told Eastern Eye: “During north India’s punishing summer heat, I doubt any locals think of the Taj as a holiday or honeymoon destination at this time of year.

“But if Meghan and Harry are serious, perhaps they are on a business-and-pleasure trip? After all, they have declared the Commonwealth as a core sphere of their work.

“Meghan underlined that in the design of her veil. The Commonwealth seems utterly anachro­nistic in today’s world – a vestige of empire that for­mer colonies like India have moved well beyond.

“But for post-Brexit Britain, holding on to the Commonwealth is politically important. The young couple are perhaps being brought on board this mission of keeping a formerly mighty imperial Brit­ain relevant in a fast-changing world.

“The Taj is a good photo opportunity declaring the power of love, but also the love of power.”

The 17th century white marble monument, which Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had built for his wife Mumtaz, is the most searched-for attrac­tion in India for honeymoons, ahead of “tiger spot­ting in Ranthambore” and “Kerala backwaters”, ac­cording to holiday firm eShores.

Amber Fort in Jaipur is fourth, followed by Mum­bai city.

Gavin Lapidus, owner of eShores, said: “The Taj Mahal, one of the world’s most opulent landmarks, has a significant connection with the royal family.

“It has a rich, storied history, and these stories make it an enduring symbol of love. There’s a long political history connecting India and the United Kingdom, giving the presence of the royal family a diplomatic importance, too.

“The same sense of rich, romantic history ap­peals to British holidaymakers, too. This, combined with its picturesque beauty – it’s one of the most In­stagrammable places in India, if you’re creative enough to get away from the crowds – makes it a classic bucket list item for Britons more interested in experiences than seven-night beach holidays.”

Temperatures in Agra soar to 40ºC in June while the average temperature in July is 34ºC.

Many tourists have complained of the lack of free drinking water at the monuments including at the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

Local Taj Mahal tour guide Ved Gautam said: “These days, tourists throng to the Taj either in the morning or after 4pm. One can see lots of colourful umbrellas. The sale of cold drinks and filtered wa­ter has gone up.”