A collaboration with BBC Radio 4 to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

Known as the tiger of Mysore, Tipu Sultan was a ferocious opponent of the British in India. His defeat and death in 1799 ended years of conflict and prevented an alliance with Napoleon. The life-size tiger’s head was taken from Tipu’s throne at his magnificent palace at Seringapatam. It is made of gold with rock crystal teeth, and was presented to William IV by the East India Company.