The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was founded by the eminent Sanskrit scholar Sir Henry Thomas Colebrooke on the 15th March 1823. It received its Royal Charter from King George IV on the 11th August 1824 'for the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia'. It continues as a forum for those who are interested in the languages, cultures and history of Asia to meet and exchange ideas.
During its time at 56 Queen Anne Street, the Royal Asiatic Society, sublet some of its rooms on the Ground floor. Permission was given for the tenancy by the British-Italian Society in 1947 and these rooms were later let to the Embroiderers' Guild who remained until 1960, when the rooms were let to Mr J. Harris, an architect. The Society had to seek permission of usage for commercial purposes from Howard de Walden Estates. By 1967, Mr Ralph Tubbs was occupying these rooms. There was also correspondence with the surveyors regarding the possibility of leasing rooms at the rear of the premises. In 1977, the Royal Anthropological Institute took over the tenancy for both these areas and remained at Queen Anne Street until the Society vacated the premises.