King Abdulaziz Public Library, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the United Kingdom, launched a photo exhibition featuring a rich collection of rare historical photos taken by Princess Alice, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, during her exploratory journey at the end of 1357 AH and the beginning of 1358 AH (1938 AD) with her husband, the Earl of Athlone; being the first figure from the British or European royal family to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the era of the founder King Abdulaziz - may ,d rest his soul - where they were honored to meet him and members of the royal family.

The exhibition, which started at the Royal Geographical Society in London on October 16, continues until November 14 next.

In a speech by His Excellency the General Supervisor of King Abdulaziz Public Library Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muammar, he mentioned that the Arabian Peninsula was and still is a center of attraction for researchers and travelers from East and West, due to its cultural peculiarity, strategic location, close connection to the history of Islam, and its hosting of the Two Holy Mosques. These factors formed a strong motivation for travelers and orientalists to bear the hardship of traveling to it, driven by a passion for knowledge, political competition, and a desire to understand Arab societies from within.

These travelers left an literary and documentary legacy of great importance, varying in objectivity, but it remains a rich source for studying the political, economic and social conditions of the Arabian Peninsula. Among the most prominent: Princess Alice, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, in 1938 AD, who made a rare exploratory and historical journey on the threshold of founding the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia accompanied by her husband, Earl Athlone, and her brother, Lord Frederick Cambridge. She was received in Jeddah by Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz, and was honored to meet King Abdulaziz Al Saud, who held a banquet in her honor; to be thus the first princess from the British and European royal family to set foot on the land of the Peninsula at a pivotal moment in its history.

Ibn Muammar added: The journey extended from the west of the Kingdom to its east, passing through Taif, Riyadh, Al-Ahsa, and Uqair, and ended with a visit to the oil wells in Dammam, then Bahrain. Despite the difficulties of the road, the Princess showed great admiration for the beauty of nature, and documented her journey in illustrated memoirs, during which she took more than 324 rare photos, some of which are considered among the first color photos in the Kingdom, in addition to a video clip considered among the oldest television filming known about Saudi Arabia.

Princess Alice's journey is a living witness to the depth of historical relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, which began with the treaty of 1915 AD, and developed into diplomatic relations in 1927 AD, then grew at various political, economic and cultural levels, on the basis of mutual respect and common interests.

King Abdulaziz Public Library has issued a special collection of Princess Alice's photos, celebrating the multiple Saudi royal visits to the United Kingdom; to confirm the depth of relations and cultural exchange between the two countries.

It is worth noting that the exhibition includes rare photographs in two colors: black and white, including some photos that are thought to be the first color photos taken in Saudi Arabia ever. In fact, one of these photos that gathered King Abdulaziz with the husband of the British Princess and in which Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz and Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz appeared, might be the first color photo of King Abdulaziz.

Also, the collection of photos taken by Princess Alice's lens reflects the stages of the journey from the west of the Kingdom - where their visit required crossing the Arabian Peninsula - to its east passing through Taif where they went by car convoy, passing through Bir Ashira and Dawadmi, where they settled in the Royal Guest Palace in Al-Badi'ah on the western bank of Wadi Hanifa, and they also visited Riyadh then (Diriyah).

The team convoy continued its journey from Riyadh towards the eastern coast of the Kingdom on the Arabian Gulf, and stopped in Al-Ahsa, then Uqair then Dammam, and from there they sailed to the Kingdom of Bahrain, before taking the plane leaving for Cairo again, then returning from there to their homeland.

Her Highness the Princess documented her journey to Saudi Arabia which lasted about three weeks, and photographed many of its events with rare photos, never published before. In addition to a motion picture.. and wrote her memoirs about the journey in the form of letters addressed to her daughter.

It is worth noting that the library owns the original collection of Princess Alice's photos during her visit to the Kingdom which includes (324) rare photographs.