the british crown had officially taken over the governing of british india from the east india company in 1858, in the aftermath of what the british called 'the indian mutiny'. henceforth, the new british raj was ruled directly from whitehall via the india office. following the delhi durbar in 1877, queen victoria was given imperial status by the british government, and she assumed the title empress of india. she was thus the queen-empress, and her successors, until george vi, were known as king-emperors. this title was the shortened form of the full title, and in widespread popular use.