Rare pictures of Naser Aldin Shah Qajar’s funeral

The Shah’s State Visit to London was a political chess move by Prime Minister Gladstone calculated to forge a territorial alliance with Persia against Russia. Britain had declared war on Persia in 1856 when the Shah ordered the invasion of Afghanistan that was soon repelled. Much to Queen Victoria’s chagrin, Gladstone approved the Shah being appointed a member of the Order of the Garter.