As condolences and tributes poured in from across the world for the late Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, an unlikely group of mourners emerged in Mumbai.
The Mumbai Dabbawala Association on Friday mourned the loss of the Queen, adding that the city’s dabbawalas shared a close relationship with the Royal Family since the then-Prince Charles’ visit.
The Chairman of the Association Subhash Talekar said, “Mumbai Dabbawala Association has had a very close relationship with British Royal Family ever since Prince Charles visited India. We are very sad to hear about the death of Queen Elizabeth II and all Dabbawalas pray that her soul rests in peace,” as per news wire agency ANI.
Mumbai Dabbawala Association has had a very close relationship with British Royal Family ever since Prince Charles visited India. We’re very sad to hear about the death of Queen Elizabeth II & all Dabbawalas pray that her soul rest in peace: Subhash Talekar, Association Chairman pic.twitter.com/z767pNJ01K— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2022
King Charles first visited Mumbai in 2003, and the dabbawalas have formed a close association with the Royal Family since then. They were, in fact, invited to the then-Prince’s wedding with Camilla Parker Bowles in London in 2005.
“On behalf of all the dabbawalas of Mumbai, I pay my heartfelt condolences to the royal family,” said Raghunath Medge, an office bearer of the Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association. Dabbawalas were unknown to the world but became famous due to Queen Elizabeth and the royal family, he said as per PTI.
Medge and another association office-bearer Sopan Mare attended the royal wedding in 2005. Recalling his eight-day visit to London for the royal wedding, Medge said they had breakfast with Queen Elizabeth and other members of the royal family at Windsor Castle.
“We had breakfast twice at Windsor Castle with the royal family and the Queen was present,” he said, adding that while they did not get to interact with her due to a language barrier, she treated them very humbly. Medge also said that Queen Elizabeth had enquired about them when Mumbai was attacked by Pakistani terrorists in November 2008.
In 2018, dabbawalas celebrated the wedding of Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markel by distributing sweets among relatives of patients in government hospitals, according to a report by Mint.
73-year-old Charles, the royal heir, immediately succeeded British Queen Elizabeth II after her death at Balmoral castle on Thursday, as per centuries-old protocol, and is King now.
(With agency inputs)
Read all the Latest News India and Breaking News here
Comments
0 comment