Umang Hutheesing's ode to Queen Elizabeth II

Ahmedabad has a different kind of a royal connect, though the city does not have a royal family to boast of. Design and fashion baron Umang Hutheesing has just returned from Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation festival at the Buckingham Palace earlier this month to mark the 60th anniversary of crowning.

Besides being the only invitee from the city to the event, Hutheesing gifted the Queen specially designed regal purple cape and red velvet shawl on the occasion. The invite was extended to Hutheesing and his mother courtesy the decade-long relationship between the Jain Mahajan family of Ahmedabad and the monarchs of Britain. “In 1961, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip had visited Ahmedabad. The then Governor had invited them to the Raj Bhavan, the Moti Shahi Palace, where my family was also invited. The association between the families, however, goes long before this date,” Hutheesing said on Monday evening after returning from Britain.

As for India and her history with British Raj, Hutheesing says Queen Elizabeth II did not rule India, she came after India achieved Independence. “She was a princess when she had first visited India. As a tribute to her, I’ve created a collection of 150 apparels titled ‘The Ethereal Princess’, inspired by the colours of the roses in her rose garden – Lavenders , soft pink, pearly white, and crème yellow with deep crimsons, forest greens and regal red,” he adds.