King Rama IV of Siam (now Thailand) signed a Treaty of Friendship and Commerce with Queen Victoria in 1855 – a landmark agreement which paved the way for new diplomatic and trading relations between the two countries. Two years later, seven Siamese ambassadors visited Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle. The queen wrote in her Journal that,

according to Siamese custom, the envoys prostrated themselves, taking their helmets off & crawling on all 4s.

 

Among the gifts they brought were a state palanquin, a throne chair and a sumptuous gold belt with nine panels set with emeralds, diamonds and rubies.