Ethiopian Prince Alemayehu's lock of hair returned after 140 years in UK

A lock of hair from Prince Alemayehu, a young Ethiopian prince who was taken to the UK in 1868, has been returned to Ethiopia, sparking hope for the return of his body.

[{"selector":"#anim-c9a29360-7c2d-4804-b1c4-85e55a7fd3f4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] In 1868, British soldiers took Prince Alemayehu from Ethiopia after his father's fortress was invaded, and his father, Emperor Tewodros II, killed himself.

[{"selector":"#anim-21473b4c-c6bf-4908-aebf-d41ab3d83e7e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.17686152722997%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] The prince had an unhappy upbringing in Britain and died at age 18 in 1879, buried at Windsor Castle.

[{"selector":"#anim-4d660c91-072a-4e54-a49d-bd09c8b781f5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-16.87944029636144%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Ethiopia's ambassador to the UK received the prince's hair and other looted artifacts from Emperor Tewodros's Maqdala fortress at a ceremony in London.

[{"selector":"#anim-f1588564-ace8-4e03-93b6-1afe9c5a045d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-16.639851282720425%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Queen Victoria supported the young prince and placed him under the guardianship of Captain Charles Speedy.

[{"selector":"#anim-961e04ea-9aca-4105-a1a1-7d13ee3f8b57 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-14.843749786673241%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] The Scheherazade Foundation facilitated the return of the lock of hair, which had been in Captain Speedy's possession.

[{"selector":"#anim-f005ece9-9996-415e-9a86-193dc11e9502 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-6.496305154740482%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Descendants of Captain Speedy handed over the hair, with hopes for more restitution of looted Ethiopian artifacts.

[{"selector":"#anim-2f1d11e5-aa64-4b73-9ffb-1594d3ee81eb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(4.342532190484727%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Buckingham Palace rejected calls to return the prince's body, citing concerns about disturbing others buried at Windsor Castle's catacombs.

[{"selector":"#anim-df76206f-39e4-4a3c-9304-7d6dd66986cb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.812499744007886%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] There are continued efforts to return more Ethiopian artifacts looted during the 1868 British expedition to Magdala for restorative justice and improved relations between British and Ethiopian institutions.

[{"selector":"#anim-dc6c6239-68bb-471e-8651-0bae10a01ed1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] For more such interesting stuff click here swipe up