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Queen Alexandra with tiger cub at the London Hippodrome
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Queen Alexandra with tiger cub at the London Hippodrome
Queen Alexandra, during a visit to the London Hippodrome on 22 November 1905 with her brother, King George I of Greece, and Prince and Princess Nicholas of Greece, pictured petting a tiger cub born in captivity to one of the animals in Richard Sawades menagerie. The cub, called Babs became rather unruly and entangled his claws in the lace of the Queens dress. Despite this behaviour, when news that the Queen had shown special favour towards Babs, Sawade was inundated with offers from ladies asking to buy him. The Illustrated London News remarks, presumably without irony, that on the same day, the Prince of Wales (later George V) shot his first tiger in India. Date: 1905
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Media ID 23274080
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Alexandra Babs Hippodrome Oct19 Petting Stroking Tiger
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In this photograph, Queen Alexandra is seen during a visit to the London Hippodrome on 22 November 1905, accompanied by her brother, King George I of Greece, and Prince and Princess Nicholas of Greece. The group is pictured petting a tiger cub named Babs, who had been born in captivity to one of the animals in Richard Sawade's menagerie. The image captures a moment of playful interaction between the royals and the wild creature, with Queen Alexandra's elegant lace gown providing a stark contrast to the raw power and energy of the young tiger. However, the encounter was not without incident. Babs, who seemed to have taken a liking to the Queen, became rather unruly and entangled his claws in the lace of her dress. Despite this unexpected behaviour, the Queen remained calm and composed, continuing to pet the cub as her brother and the other royals looked on. Interestingly, on the same day, the Prince of Wales, later King George V, shot his first tiger in India. The Illustrated London News reported on the event, remarking with apparent irony that the Queen had shown special favour towards Babs, leading to an influx of offers from ladies seeking to purchase the cub. This photograph offers a fascinating glimpse into the past, showcasing the royals' connection with nature and the exotic animals of the time. It also highlights the contrasting attitudes towards animals during the early 20th century, with some viewing them as objects of fascination and desire, while others saw them as valuable hunting trophies.
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