Two absolutely remarkable London residents of the 20th Century. Muteesa II, King of Buganda, pictured here with Oliver Messel in his garden in Pelham Place – London. 1950s.

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1. ● Muteesa II: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutesa_II_of_Buganda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutesa_II_of_Buganda)

   ● Oliver Messel: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Messel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Messel)

   Footage:

   ● [https://youtu.be/3HyYJ8mJ4M0?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/3HyYJ8mJ4M0?feature=shared)

   ● [https://youtu.be/ozVEDTxBn-M?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/ozVEDTxBn-M?feature=shared)

   In 1953 after Muteesa II was (momentarily) deposed by the British state for seeking independence, Messel tried to rent for him an apartment in Mayfair. Due to the Colour Bar in Britain at the time the landlord could reject this and so Messel campaigned to the government and the press about the policy. When the King returned to Buganda, Messel and his partner Vagn Riis-Hansen went to support him for the state ceremonies. Crazy to think of this openly Gay couple being there – but Buganda itself famously had a broadminded King, Mwanga II, who was Muteesa II’s Grandfather and who the British had despised as a ‘sodomite’.

   ● Mwanga II: [https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/12/a-century-before-kill-the-gays-uganda-had-a-queer-king-mwanga-ii/](https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/12/a-century-before-kill-the-gays-uganda-had-a-queer-king-mwanga-ii/)

2. Wish the Queen had found some room for Muteesa.

3. Were they bum chums?

4. 13 consorts?!

5. I was at university with Muteesa’s son – who is now King of Buganda.

6. I hope they kissed

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