Correspondence of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh in connection with her visits to India in 1903 and 1907

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Title
Correspondence of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh in connection with her visits to India in 1903 and 1907
Author
  • Duleep Singh, Sophia
Document Type
  • Correspondence
Date
18 Jun 1903 - 14 Aug 1907
Biography
Princess Sophia (1876-1948) was the youngest daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh, ruler of Punjab from 1943 to 1949, and his wife Bamba Muller, and the goddaughter of Queen Victoria. Sophia grew up amidst grand opulence at Elveden Hall, where her father hosted the height of aristocracy. After her father fell into trouble and left the family in destitution, Queen Victoria granted Sophia a grace-and-favour house at Hampton Court Palace and gave her a place in the royal court. Sophia became an active suffragette shortly after returning to England from a trip to India in 1903 and made wide-ranging contributions to the cause. She refused to pay her taxes, spoiled the census papers and defied court judgments. She sold WSPU publications outside her home at Hampton Court Palace and led the ‘Black Friday’ demonstration to Parliament with Emmeline Pankhurst.
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