02.02.2025: Duke of Edinburgh Visits British-Era Bunker in Raj Bhavan

Duke of Edinburgh Visits British-Era Bunker in Raj Bhavan

During his visit to Mumbai, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, met with Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan on Sunday (2nd). Following the formal meeting, Prince Edward was shown some of the historically resonant sites in Raj Bhavan.

Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,and the youngest sibling of King Charles III, started the visit with the Raj Bhavan lawn, which overlooks the sea.

The Prince was informed that the lawn was the venue for the reception hosted in honour of then Prince of Wales, his brother Charles in the year 1980.

Prince Edward later visited the ‘Jal Lakshan’ a VIP guest house usually reserved for the President and Prime Minister of India. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh had been invited to stay at this guest house during their visit to Mumbai in 1961.

Governor’s Principal Secretary Pravin Darade and Public Relations Officer Umesh Kashikar then guided Prince Edward through the historic ‘Jal Kiran’ guest house and the ‘Jal Vihar’ state banquet hall.

The Prince was also shown the historic ‘Jal Vihar’ – the State Banquet Hall and the underground bunker.

The Duke was accompanied by the British Deputy High Commissioner Harjinder Kang, the Duke’s Private Secretary Alex Potts, and the Head of the Political and Bilateral Affairs Department, John Nickell.

Prince Edward proceeded to his next engagement after thanking the officials.

Background

During the pre-independence period, Raj Bhavan was known as the ‘Government House’ of Bombay. After independence, it became the official residence of the Governor of the Bombay State, and following the formation of Maharashtra, it was designated as the Raj Bhavan of Maharashtra.