Princess Sophia Duleep Singh - Suffragette
Princess Sophia Duleep Singh was a royal rebel. She was born on the 8th August 1876 in London. Princess Sophia’s father, Maharaja Duleep Singh, a Sikh prince was once a ruler of the Punjab. As a child the British Empire took his kingdom and brought him to live in the UK (as an adult he made attempts to take back his kingdom but was unsuccessful). Princess Sophia was one of Queen Victoria’s god daughters, she had all the luxuries the British aristocracy could offer including an apartment at Hampton Court Palace given to her by Queen Victoria.
In 1907 Princess Sophia visited India and became aware of the Indian independence movement - and the poverty. She was awakened by the injustices her people faced. During the trip Princess Sophia was followed and her moves monitored by British spies.
On her return to the UK Princess Sophia turned her attention to activism and justice. In 1908 she joined the Women’s Social and Political Union — the militant arm of the British suffragette movement fighting for votes for women.
Although she didn’t want her ‘fame’ to obscure the work of the Suffragettes, she wasn’t quiet, she was on the front lines. Princess Sophia sold suffragette newspapers outside her palace home. She refused to pay taxes, knowing full well that her property would be seized, however she was defiant. The message was –
“No vote, no tax”
If women weren’t allowed to vote, why should they fund the system that excluded them? She exercised political activism with the Womens Tax Reform League and was fined for non-payment of tax arrears of licenses for her carriage, her five dogs and her male servant. Princess Sophia was adamant, even when taken to court she wouldn’t pay, so items of her jewelry were seized for auction and the proceeds used to pay her debt. On auction day the Suffragettes bought the items up for sale and presented the jewelry back to her which created a great deal of publicity and embarrassment for the royal family.
Suffragette protests became increasingly violent, as with the infamous 1910 protest known as Black Friday. Princess Sophia was in attendance. She witnessed police brutality, against women, and used her status to protect them by confronting policeman after witnessing a heavy handed confrontation.
During the First World War Princess Sophia volunteered as a nurse, caring for Indian soldiers injured on the Western Front. She also raised money for the soldiers by selling flags.
Princess Sophia died in 1948, a ur=ear after India gained independence.
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