The Last Princesses of Punjab Exhibition Opens at Kensington Palace
A groundbreaking exhibition is set to illuminate the remarkable life of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, an exiled Punjabi princess who became a trailblazing suffragette and challenged the British elite. The Last Princesses of Punjab opens on Thursday, 26 March, at Kensington Palace and will run until November, offering a deep dive into her extraordinary journey.
From Royal Court to Suffragette Activism
Sophia Duleep Singh was the daughter of Duleep Singh, the last Sikh maharajah of the Punjab. As a child, he was compelled to surrender his lands to the East India Company in 1849 and relinquish the famed Koh-i-noor diamond, now a stark symbol of colonial exploitation, set in the crown of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. He later moved to England, forging a close friendship with Queen Victoria and marrying the daughter of a German banker and an enslaved Ethiopian woman. Their children, including Sophia, grew up at Elveden Hall in Suffolk as aristocrats.
The exhibition focuses on Sophia and the five influential women who shaped her life: her sisters Catherine and Bamba, her mother Bamba Muller, grandmother Jind Kaur, and godmother Queen Victoria. Through personal letters, photographs, and objects, it reveals how their complex heritage fueled the causes they championed, weaving a global narrative of empire, dispossession, and resistance.
Highlights of the Exhibition
Sophia was a dedicated campaigner for women's rights, and the exhibition features rare items that underscore her activism. A bound volume of The Suffragette, showcasing an image of her selling copies at Hampton Court Palace—where Queen Victoria granted her a grace-and-favour apartment—is a key highlight. Additionally, her handwritten letter to Winston Churchill, reporting police brutality during the Black Friday suffragette march in 1910, where she marched alongside Emmeline Pankhurst, offers a poignant glimpse into her efforts.
The display also includes banners from the Women's Tax Resistance League, emblazoned with the slogan "No Vote, No Tax," illustrating her defiance. Sophia was taken to court three times for refusing to pay taxes, a testament to her unwavering commitment. Items from her childhood, such as an ornately decorated rocking horse and embroidered outfits, highlight her dual identity as both a British aristocrat and a Punjabi princess.
Legacy and Impact of the Sisters
Sophia's sister, Catherine, played a crucial role in supporting Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution. The exhibition features a jewelled pendant, likely an heirloom from their grandmother Jind Kaur, which Catherine gave to an eight-year-old girl, Ursula Hornstein. Catherine acted as a guarantor for Jewish families in Germany, inviting them to live at her Buckinghamshire home, showcasing her quiet yet powerful humanitarian efforts.
Opening during Women's History Month and marking the 150th anniversary of Sophia's birth, the exhibition includes contemporary responses from British South Asian women, adding modern relevance to these historical narratives.
Curatorial Insights
Polly Putnam, curator of collections for Historic Royal Palaces, remarked, "This exhibition reveals a story of courage, identity, and resistance told through the lives of extraordinary women. Presenting it within Kensington Palace—where Queen Victoria spent her childhood—provides a rare opportunity to reflect on their intertwined histories and to showcase objects that speak to both a global story and the personal stories of these women."
Mishka Sinha, exhibition historian, added, "The women of her family lived through an extraordinary sweep of history, yet each found ways to exert influence and forge their own identity."
This exhibition not only honors Sophia Duleep Singh's legacy but also sheds light on the broader themes of empire, activism, and identity, making it a must-see for history enthusiasts and advocates of social justice alike.
