Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, born on 8^th August 1876, was an Indian Princess who lived at Faraday House in Hampton Court Palace, where she was held in grace and favour, as her father Maharajah Duleep Singh, had been a close friend of Queen Victoria’s.

Princess Sophia took an active role in the Suffragette Campaign to win votes for women in Britain through the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) and the Women’s Tax Resistance League. Influenced by suffragette Una Dugdale, Sophia became an active campaigner between 1909 and 1914, both nationally and locally in the Kingston and Kew WSPU branches.

There is an article in the New York Times from 1914 about suffragette activity, which names her as an active member. Princess Sophia played a part in the first deputation to parliament on 18th November 1910, known as 'Black Friday' led by Emmeline Pankhurst, when a riot broke out, as women attempted to gain access to the House of Commons to see Prime Minister Asquith, and protested against the dropping of the Conciliation Bill, which would have given women the vote. The Princess played an active role in publicity campaigns, in July 1911; leading a parade of ‘press carts’ delivering copies of Votes for Women in London. She also raised funds for the WSPU and sold copies of The Suffragette at her 'pitch' outside Hampton Court.

The Indian princess is best known for the leading role she took in the Women’s Tax Resistance League (WTRL), refusing to pay taxes without representation. In May 1911 she refused to pay licences for her five dogs, carriage, and manservant, and was fined £3. In July 1911, her defiance led to the impounding of a seven stone diamond ring, which was auctioned at Ashford for £10. The ring was bought by a member of the WTRL and returned to her. In December 1913, she refused to pay a similar fine and as a result, a pearl necklace and a gold bangle studded with pearls and diamonds, were seized and auctioned at Twickenham Town Hall. She made a stand stating that ‘taxation without representation’ was a tyranny. She added:

‘I am unable conscientiously to pay money to the State, as I am not allowed to exercise any control over its expenditure, neither am I allowed any voice in the choosing of members of Parliament, whose salaries I have to help to pay. This is very unjust. 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. If I am not a fit person for the purposes of representation, why should I be a fit person for taxation?’

Votes for Women, 2 January, p. 209.The Times, 30 December 1913 (Peter Bance©www.duleepsingh.com)

Both items were bought by members of the WTRL. Buying back these items helped generate interest and support for the womens’ movement.

In 1915 Sophia Duleep Singh was part of the 10,000-strong women’s war work procession led by Emmeline Pankhurst. After the death of Mrs Pankhurst in 1928 she was appointed president of the committee which provided flowers for her statue. She joined the Suffragette Fellowship, remaining a member until her death. Her passionate commitment to the women’s cause continued, as demonstrated by the fact that in the 1934 edition of Women’s Who’s Who she listed ‘Advancement of Women’ as her one and only interest.

The princess never married and died at her home, Hilden Hall in Buckinghamshire in August 1948 of a cardiac failure.

Sources:

1. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: full online availability via every public library in London.
2. “Peter Bance©www.duleepsingh.com”
3. The New York Times
4. The Museum of london

Researched and compiled by Sumedha Mane, 2009.

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