From November 1905 to March 1906 the Prince and Princess of Wales, later King George V and Queen Mary, toured India and Burma. Edinburgh-born artist, Burn-Murdoch, has captured the moment when the Royal couple land at Rangoon Boat Club, having alighted from a barge decorated with dragons and illuminated by lanterns; crowds around the edge of the lawn greet them.

In his recollections of his travels entitled: 'From Edinburgh to India and Burmah', published in 1908, Burn-Murdoch described how…'the illuminations, like the reedy music went out slowly and the brass band had its turn and pom-pomed away, as the Prince and Princess stood a little, on a knoll under the Club trees in a glow of hundreds of lamps. Their coming down the winding path from the knoll was picturesque.' He also recalled the work of his contemporary, James MacNeil Whistler; 'I thought of Whistler's "Cremone Gardens" and his "Valparaiso", for this was such a night effect as he could have painted.' And the artist has created an impression of the atmosphere of the evening; the night sky and shadowy crowds, illuminated by the numerous lanterns.

A Tour of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, India 1905-6, printed by Thacker, Spink: Calcutta is in the Royal Collection (RCIN 1054654).

The frame is by Doig, Wilson and Wheatley: Edinburgh.