Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Imperial Order of the Crown of India awarded to Winifred, Lady Hardinge of Penshurst

The Imperial Order of the Crown of India, oval breast badge, 67mm x 40mm, in gold, the central Royal Cypher set alternately with diamonds, pearls and turquoises, encircled by a pearl set border, the whole surmounted by Imperial Crown with red enamelled caul, the band set with emeralds and rubies, the orb set with a pearl, mounted on original ribbon bow with gold suspension brooch, one pearl deteriorated, otherwise extremely fine and very rare £6000-8000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Richard Magor Collection of Medals Relating to India and Africa, and other Fine Awards.

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The Honourable Winifred Selina Sturt was the daughter of Henry Gerard Sturt, 1st Baron Alington, and Lady Augusta Bingham. Her father was a wealthy Dorsetshire landowner with property in London, a Conservative M.P. for Dorchester and then Dorset from 1846 until his elevation to the Peerage in 1876. Winifred was a close friend of Edward and Alexandra, Prince and Princess of Wales, and was one of the few outsiders permitted close contact with the Wales’ children, particularly Princesses Maud and Victoria. A talented violinist who often played at Court, she married, on 17 April 1890, Charles Hardinge, later 1st Baron Hardinge and Viceroy of India. In July 1893, she was appointed Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Alexandra of Wales. Upon Alexandra becoming Queen in 1901, she was appointed Woman of the Bedchamber and, in 1913, Extra Lady of the Bedchamber. Prior to her leaving for India in 1910, she was appointed to the Order of the Crown of India, in her capacity as wife to the Viceroy elect. In India, she was an active fund raiser for a teaching hospital for women which was eventually to bear her name. Lady Hardinge died suddenly in London in 1914.