This year’s theme centres around the idea of investing in women and accelerating progress.
Historic Royal Palaces – Celebrating the achievements of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh
Whilst there are countless women throughout history who have shaped today’s society and accelerated change, we would like to focus on one incredible woman who was a true trailblazer in fighting for equality, but whose achievements are rarely recognised – Princess Sophia Duleep Singh.
1. A suffragette
Being the daughter of the deposed Maharaja Duleep Singh and goddaughter of Queen Victoria, Sophia used her fame, position and tenacity in the fight for gender equality in the early 20th century, often attracting the attention of both the press and the government.
A long-time supporter of the Women’s Suffrage movement and leading campaigner in the fight for women’s rights in Britian, she was an active member of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), becoming a prominent member of the Richmond and Kingston-upon-Thames district branches.
The Princess was present on “Black Friday”, 18 November 1910, where more than 300 suffragettes marched from Caxton Hall to Parliament Square and demanded to see the Prime Minister. When the Prime Minster refused to see them and the protestors refused to disperse, the police responded with brutality. When violence erupted, the Princess rescued a suffragette from a police officer, who was treating her extremely roughly. She then pursued the officer until she discovered his identification number, in order to make a formal complaint.
Over six hours, 200 women were physically and sexually assaulted. Two would later die from their injuries.
2. No Vote, No tax!
Sophia was a member of the Women’s Tax Reform League (WTRL), which campaigned on the principal – ‘No Vote, No tax!’.
In May 1911, Princess Sophia was summoned to court and fined £3 for keeping a man-servant, five dogs and a carriage without licence. In 1913 she was summoned again to answer for keeping dogs and a carriage without a licence.
The Princess protested that taxation without representation was tyranny: “When the women of England are enfranchised and the state acknowledges me as a citizen I shall, of course, pay my share willingly towards its upkeep.”
Sophia was fined £12 10s. with costs. Her refusal to pay resulted in some of her jewels being confiscated and auctioned at Twickenham Town Hall, when both were purchased by Miss Gertrude Eaton, The Honourable Secretary of the WTRL.
Later that year, a further diamond ring was confiscated when Sophia likewise refused to pay a fine. When auctioned the ring was bought by Mrs Jopling Rowe, who presented it back to Princess Sophia to much applause.
3. A philanthropist
Princess Sophia supported Indians, particularly women, throughout her life. She formed close ties with the Sikh community in London visiting the Sikh temple at Shepherds Bush regularly. She frequently attended functions organised by the India Office, including receptions for distinguished Indian visitors.
Sophia supported the Indian Women’s Education Association, volunteering at their stall at Claridges in 1921, which was arranged by the Conservative Women’s Reform Movement.
Like her father Sophia supported the Lascars Club, which supported Indian Seamen and sailors stranded in London.
4. The war effort
During the First World War, the WSPU and WTRL temporally ceased activity to support the war effort.
The Princess was one of the 10,000 strong Women’s War Work Procession led by Emmeline Pankhurst in 1915.
During the war Sophia was particularly keen to emulate and help the thousands of Indians who were fighting for the Allied Powers. In 1916 Sophia raised money for the Red Cross selling Indian flags at Dewar House in Haymarket. She did this with other Indian women, as part of the ‘Our Day’ celebration of the anniversary of the British Red Cross.
In 1918, the YMCA War Emergency Committee, of which Sophia was Honourable Secretary, organised a flag day in London and later ‘India Day’ for the support of India’s soldiers and Labour Corps. The latter event provided 50,000 huts for the comfort of Indian soldiers.
The Princess visited and even nursed troops at Brighton Pavilion and other hospitals for Indian soldiers, much to the shock of the soldiers!
You can see an example of the “India Day” badge, handed out by the Princess, in our Indian Army at the Palace exhibition, open to Hampton Court Palace visitors until 29 September 2024. Princess Sophia Duleep Singh will also be a prominent figure in the 2025 exhibition at Kensington Palace which will explore princesses of resistance.
