Princess, Socialite, Suffragette: Sophia Duleep Singh

Let’s take a look at the life of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh…
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Intro / Outro song: Silent Partner, "Greenery" [ • Greenery - Silent Part... ]
SFX from freesfx.co.uk/Default.aspx
Images (from Wikimedia Commons, unless otherwise stated):
Photograph of the blue plaque honouring Princess Sophia Duleep Singh at Faraday House taken by me (Katrina Marchant 2023).
Photograph of Bamba Muller (1886). From the Peter Bance Collection.
Drawing of Maharani Jindan Kaur with her son Duleep Singh by an unknown artist (19th century). Held by the Kapany Collection.
Maharani Jindan Kaur rallying the Sikh troops by an unknown artist (19th-early 20th century). In an unknown collection.
Photograph of a replica of the Koh-i-Noor diamond at Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, Mumbai taken by aiva (2020).
Portrait of Maharaja Duleep Singh by Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1854). Held by the Royal Collection.
Portrait of Maharani Jindan Kaur by George Richmond (1863). In an unknown collection.
Photograph of the Princesses Catherine, Bamba and Sophia by an unknown photographer (1892).
Photograph of Sophia by J.W. Clarke (1895). Held by the Norfolk Museums - Ancient House Museum.
Photographic record Durbar Procession in 1903, twin images meant to be seen through binoculars to create 3-d effect, by James Ricalton. Held by the British Library.
Photograph of Sophia selling “The Suffragette” a=outside Hampton Court, published in “The Suffragette”; 18th April 1913. Held by the British Library.
Newspaper clipping dealing with Sophia’s court appearance, published 13th December 1913.
A policeman tries to seize the pole of a banner from a suffragette on Black Friday, photographer unknown. The Daily Mirror, 19 November 1910, page 11.
Photograph of Rosa May Billinghurst being accosted at the march. Held by the LSE Library.
Arrest of a suffragette. Held by the Women’s Library Collection.
Front page of The Daily Mirror, 19 November 1910: "Violent scenes at Westminster, where many suffragettes were arrested while trying to force their way into the House of Commons."
Census protest of Sophia Duleep Singh from Hampton Court. Catalogue ref: RG 14/3561. Screenshot from blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...
AN ANNOUNCEMENT in the ‘Daily Mail’ national newspaper publicising “The Great Women’s Procession” on 17 July 1915 in central London and inviting women. Image Copyright © IWM. IWM catalogue reference Q 107082. Original source www.iwm.org.uk/collections/it...
Postcard showing Indian WW1 hospital inside The Dome of the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, sent May 1915.
Photograph of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh as a nurse during WW I by an unknown photographer. From The Modern Review. July 1919.
Photographic portrait of Emmeline Pankhurst by Matzene, Chicago (restored by Adam Cuerden (November 1913). Held by the Library of Congress.
Statue of Emmeline Pankhurst, Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster, London. Photographed by Fin Fahey (2006).
Photograph of Sophia in 1930. From the Peter Bance Collection.
Quoted texts:
Anita Anand, “Sophia Duleep Singh: Princess and Suffragette” (2018). From www.bl.uk/votes-for-women/art...
Also consulted, were:
Other relevant entries from The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online.
www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/...
www.english-heritage.org.uk/v...
Anita Anand, Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary (2018).
#Suffragette #History #HamptonCourt

[@sherrillsturm7240]

I love Sophia's great logic: not a person, cannot be counted; not a person, cannot be taxed. There really is no argument against that. We owe these corageous women a great deal.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I’m glad someone acknowledged the great contribution of Indian soldiers to the Allied cause during the two World Wars. Our black soldiers here in the US weren’t really acknowledged, either, especially for their service in WWI.

[@rosevale3218]

The suffragists of the early movement had to be strong women. Being arrested, jailed, abused by violence, and vilified in print media was intense pressure to stop their work. Both in England and the U.S. it only made them work harder for suffrage. They make me proud to vote for each election. I never take for granted the work they did to ensure I have this right. 👸⚖️

[@jasperhorace7147]

I quite agree. Despite my KZbin name, I am female. I have two daughters, now in their forties. As each reached voting age, here in New Zealand, I encouraged them to make sure they vote in every election in remembrance of and as a tribute to the suffragettes. I’ve recently been researching my family and found my great grandmother on the electoral immediately after women in New Zealand got the vote in 1893.

[@lindalaw5466]

@@jasperhorace7147 please also look to what is happening today in NZ. Women are not safe.💔

[@AleaumeAnders]

You know why I hate those premiere things? because your content usually is so interesting, that it's torturous to wait for it. ;)

[@starrywizdom]

Her father's story is tragic. It's satisfying that Sophia was able to make positive differences in her lifetime. 👸

[@spews1973]

That was great! More videos on historical British people of African and Asian descent would be good. I'm sure there will be more coming.

[@sarahwatts7152]

Seconded!

[@TheSuzberry]

I remember someone commenting negatively on seeing a dark face among Roman soldiers in a historical reenactment. More on people of color in England, please.

[@Intervain]

"I have a conscientious objection to filling up this form' was my favorite part... she was very principled 👸

[@Twoandtwoarefour]

Princess Sophia was only one of many strong women who were forward thinking and the rights they fought for were not just for them, but for their daughters and granddaughters and for us. Many people take the right to vote for granted, forgetting that others stood and sacrificed for it, and forgetting that the right to vote is still denied in many places. Thank you for shining a light into this corner of history. It would be interesting to see what our great-grandchildren say about the things that we stood for, if indeed we stand for things that are worthy and will last.

[@lindalaw5466]

Yet now we’re are having our safe spaces and hard won rights removed by men in dresses……..

[@allpau6199]

This was very enlightening. It’s always great to see a wealthy/celebrity actually put their money where their mouth is. She was really dedicated to the causes she cared about which is wonderful to see as so many people of means or influence publicly decry a social injustice but don’t do anything physically to alleviate the problem.

[@spacecardinal]

I wonder, if more women were of wealthy means would they have joined her? A lot of our heros such as Ghandi came from wealth.

[@rebbekahcannons9805]

I like how she went from being a influencer type to a person genuinely interested in helping others less seen/heard by putting her background to use positively

[@susanvinson2667]

This was wonderful! I had never heard of this woman before. What a life she led! I’m sure there are many other fascinating stories of obscure people of history. Ones they leave out of most textbooks. Thank you for enlightening us again.❤

[@Voronochka262]

Thank you for sharing about the life of Sophia Duleep Singh. I had not made the connection that it had been her father from whom the Koh i Noor diamond was taken away. Another interesting woman I would like to learn more about too is Noor Inayat Khan

[@clairepancerz9744]

I had never heard of this estimable woman before. I absolutely loved seeing what she wrote about women not being counted or represented - therefore, she would not pay taxes or participate in the census. You always provide us with fascinating content! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 (strong arms for her protesting efforts)

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I’m so glad mother and son were at last united for those two years. I lost my Mom a year ago, and every day with her is precious to me.

[@MissAmy947]

I loved this episode, if I lived in that time I'd be cheering her on with screams of more power to her arm. An episode on the suffragette movement would be awesome. My great grandmother was one, I learnt this researching some family history and found her declaring herself a demonstrator on the census in 1910.

[@julzy3]

I love her name and how it honors her multicultural family. What a courageous woman. I find it insane that while bicycle riding was considered scandalous, the need of Suffragist organizations wasn't. I would love for you to do a piece on Lily Maxwell.👸🚲

[@lindalaw5466]

Women at the time ride horses side saddle , as it was the fact a woman parted her legs that was scandalous.

[@mymukul9834]

Maharaja Ranjkt Singh Jindabad 🎉

[@HLBear]

🌟 What an inspiring woman. She started out enjoying her station and ended up changing the station of England's women! ❤

[@joyoung2483]

👸Goes to show that you can start out a pampered oblivious princess and end up a pampered creator of positive change.

[@eliscanfield3913]

✍Remember to vote! I did last month (we had a special election hereabouts) and will again in November!

[@amethystle]

I had the privilege of learning about this amazing woman while at university, working on my minor in history. Her position as a displaced princess in the land of her colonizers, and a woman of color, must have been a very precarious one, and I so admire that she was willing to compromise her place of relative privilege to elevate others. I highly recommend her biography by Anita Anand.

[@carole6779]

👸✊📖🖋 Another fascinating video! What a switch, from socialite to suffragette. Clearly, the travel to India had a tremendous impact on her outlook, which is also a reflection of her character. Others who traveled with her ~ and others traveling at that time ~ don't seem to have been as motivated by what they saw to do anything different with their lives. Thank you, Dr. Kat! 💕💖

[@user-dh8qz6gy2b]

This was an interesting and intriguing change of pace! Her turnaround from socialite to leader is fascinating. It's as though the Durbar was her SIddhartha moment.

[@Lufu2]

Wow, 🕊Sophia Duleep Singh 👸amazing story and what a woman! Thank you for all of your hard work and the amazing lives & stories you share with us on this channel. We learn so much from you 💯% !

[@candyh2o]

(I'm new to your channel). Your videos are amazing and I'm enjoying watching some of the older vods as well. Thank you for making them. On a side note, I plan to dig deeper into your library (of vods), to see if you covered the High Middle Ages, or high medieval period. If not, I'd enjoy seeing some content (the 1220-30s in particular) that covers both royals and peasants in high medieval times. *cheers* 👑

[@BonnieG1C]

Here in the States, my grandmother marched for women's suffrage. She asked her graddaughters, "What's the first thing you do when you buy a house?" "Change the name on the title." "What's the first thing you do when you buy a horse/a car?" "Change the name on the title/paperwork." "What's the first thing a man does when he marries a woman?" " Changes the name . . ." We are still goods and chattel. My husband was disabled and had no income. I filed as head of household. I got an "Oh, hell no!" letter from our Internal Revenue Service!

[@Kristine709]

Wonderful video - yet again an important figure I had no previous information on. The more I watch your channel, the more I learn and want to learn more. ❤❤❤ And for the Princess, 👑👑👑👑. I would truly enjoy more videos on rabble-rousing women of any time period.

[@michellejenkins5922]

An amazing woman, I would love to hear more history of courageous women not just suffergettes but all those who stood up and opposed the government's of their time 👸🕌.

[@elizabethdibble5159]

Dr. Kat, I had heard of this interesting lady, but did not know much else. Thank you for helping bring her to life.👑👳

[@kiddDEVY]

Sophia Duleep Singh a REAL Princess in Revolt for Revolution 👸🏾 🇮🇳 🇬🇧 🗳 📃 🟣⚪️🟢

[@Fluffymonkeyem]

I can't believe this is free education, this is so good! I'm curious to learn more about women using not paying their taxes or filling out the census. That's fascinating! 👸🏾

[@BonnieG1C]

Dr. Kat,

[@BonnieG1C]

How would I find out about tactics used here in the states? Since we were princess👸👸 deprived and had no royalty👑👑👑 here

[@annemorton5236]

What a wonderful woman she was! brave ,determined, kind. Thank you for this video ❣

[@verenawagner3939]

Love this episode. More on suffragettes please! 🙏 🙏 🙏

[@alexrafe2590]

Fascinating story of a woman I had never heard of. Thank you so much for sharing her story with me.🏵

[@cindylawcindylaw]

Fabulous - another fabulous! - episode. That trip to India must have been something phenomenally shocking for her, and what a confluence of life experiences. Thanks so much for all the work you do, Dr.Kat.

[@donnasalas2264]

Thank you so much for informing us about Women’s Suffragists efforts in the UK. Learning about this woman and her colleagues was wonderfully presented.🇺🇸🇬🇧

[@detectivety1866]

I would love to hear more about the women's suffrage movement. It is unfortunate that women in the US, Canada, and the UK are woefully uneducated on this subject. Thank you so much!❤

[@GwenWittig]

What an inspiration. Visiting India is most definitely a game/life changer. What an interesting and powerful woman.

[@mariebray9831]

As a New Zealander it seems so weird to me, that Britain, took so long to give women the vote. When my great-grand mothers were able to vote in 1893.

[@helenpepin8679]

She was an incredible woman.

[@abigailg6586]

I’ve just started a class for my last semester of undergrad about women’s perspectives in history (mainly focusing on post-civil war US) so this was really good timing!!

[@j7333nnn]

Thanks! Loved this. I read a fascinating book on her father's life.. Have you done a presentation on him ?? Jeffrey

[@shannanstigri]

Hey there from crazy Portland Oregon 😜 love the channel. Thank you for your hard work.🎉

[@debs_boho_jungle]

PDX HERE TOO❤

[@prettypic444]

A grace and favor video sounds fascinating, especially going into the politics of who got what property! I'd also love to hear more about notable suffragettes, particularly ones like Sophia who broke the "upperclass rich abled white woman" mold. 👸🏽 (everyone knows princesses are inherently political!)

[@dorian4534]

What a fantastic lady! 🙋‍♀

[@maggieg8200]

Wow! What a life she led.👸👸👸

[@Mademoiselle7]

❤ Amazing ❤ Thank You ❤

[@bizburgess1947]

This was great. Thanks Dr. Kat.🕌

[@lymanmaddox1694]

Thank you for sharing the story of Sophia Duleep Singh.

[@vanessaniekamp72]

Thank you for sharing!

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

A woman after my own American heart “no taxation without representation”. One would think Britain should have learned this lesson 200 years ago, but such deeply-entrenched societal prejudices are difficult to overturn. We didn’t get the vote in the US until 1920. When I reached my majority in 1978, wife-beating and rape were still legal and when I sought prescription Ibuprofen for my severe and utterly debilitating cramps, I was told by a male doctor they were imaginary, from “female hysteria”. I continued to miss two days of work out of every 26 from this during my academic and working careers until Ibuprofen finally went over-the-counter, but that male doctor acted liked I had asked for heroin or cocaine! Down with patriarchy, the root of evil against women.

[@caitlinallen8400]

Absolutely fascinating! What a badass lady 💪👸🏼

[@bcaiko]

My friend overheard me listening to a Dr Kat video and he said “she has a very nice voice” :D

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thanks for all this information.👑

[@brianna16828]

🪧📜👑 thank you for another great video!

[@marsy1480]

Really interesting Dr Kat! Thank you for another fabulous video. Really brought home how ‘distasteful’ colonisation was. Looking forward to your next upload!

[@Posie-hg1ze]

✊🏼🫅🏽 A powerful princess. Obviously being so close to our Royal Family the Government and the powers that be were extremely cautious in curtailing her. Good on her and Sophia and all women that fought for me to have a voice are the reason I vote today.

[@kellybrown8638]

As a "Love Child of Color", had she not been a favorite of Queen Victoria, she would have been treated VERY differently by society

[@madelinevanderbunny607]

Thanks!

[@BeWitchedTV]

Thank you

[@sjmsutherland]

Thank you for this video, I really enjoyed this!! OoOo a video on the WSPU but be awesome!!! I am very interested in the Sufferagettes, learning about members I'd not heard of before was great, thank you again for this video. I've searched out a book about her, I'll be ordering it when I get some pennies!!

[@neko-chan6145]

Thank you for your hard work

[@shelleygibbons1065]

So good. Always so good

[@teresagabriela5806]

Fascinating woman!

[@homebody13]

Great vid! 👸🏽

[@peterromeo4379]

This is a very interesting video! Great job!

[@lillyfranzen7802]

👑 Another amazing video. On one of my all time favorite subjects, thank you so much! Best wishes to all!

[@amalaleonard9738]

So excited for this episode! I’m doing a project on Sophia Duleep Singh at sixth form for an EPQ at the moment so it’s great to see so much interest in her

[@windsong5797]

Thanks for another interesting story I love that it seems that ✈️ 🌎 opened her eyes and had she not travelled may have remained a vacuous socialite. Even today travel, especially to those countries that are polar opposites of western life, allows us perspective that cannot be ignored ❤️

[@lesliesutain19]

SUPERB!!....many thanks Mai Jindan💜💙💚

[@ye11owflower]

Fantastic video! What a brilliant woman!

[@c.froekjaer.writer]

I knew about Princess Sophia, but this was just amazing. Thank you for this. She seems like the kind of woman I would love to know and protest alongside.

[@MamaMargie]

Great video. ❤

[@ninaballenger588]

👑. Loved it

[@unshallowifyable]

Absolutely agree on your video suggestions Dr Kat! Excellent suggestions you’d cover fantastically. Sophia was such a fascinating person, thanks for covering her! There’s a very good BBC radio 4 podcast on her too, highly recommend

[@adrianortega7157]

👑❤ ...another wonderful video..keep up the good work 🎉 All the best from Chicago 🏙️

[@SelectiveMemories]

Fantastic ❤

[@auntyharry]

I would like to see a video on the suffrage movement lead by Mrs Pankhurst. I believe some of her activists were imprisoned and force fed as the result of a hunger strike. I’ve just finished reading “The Dictionary of Lost Words” and this aspect of the British suffrage movement was woven through the storyline.

[@Marian-pb7fd]

💜 purple, 💚 green and 🤍 white. The colors of the suffragettes

[@mike-myke22]

A remarkable woman. Thanks for posting. 👍

[@kathrynmast916]

❤😊another great video.🏰👑

[@mclark3814]

Great video.❤😊❤😊❤

[@Richard-zm6pt]

Quite amazing.

[@kathleenbirgy7970]

History... love it. Thank you

[@Sdragnasty]

❤️from Vienna Virginia

[@grievousangelic]

Wow! What a remarkable woman! Loved this. Thank you for posting! Peace!

[@gabitamiravideos]

I enjoyed this installment. I never take for granted the rights people like her fought for. 👩🏽‍💼👳🏽💂🏽💪🏽📢

[@PaulSinghSelhi-VFX-TUTORIALS]

This is a good take. All of us feel the call of the Land Of the Five Rivers..it is in our DNA..so many of us from these lands have travelled over generations of minds and so many of us have turned to follow similar paths back. The Sikhi ARE ONE PEOPLE WHO LEARN FROM THEIR COLLECTIVE ADVENTURES. 'Women shall be equal of men in every way. No purdah (veil) for them anymore, nor the burning alive of a widow on the pyre of her spouse (sati). He who kills his daughter, the Khalsa shall not deal with him.' Guru Gobind Singh.

[@moonspath1598]

👑 📣 honestly, I'd never heard of her. Thank you for her very interesting and informative story.

[@Grijsduif]

Knowing that women in Belgium can only vote since 1948, wich is a disgrace, I wiched that we would have had someone as brave as Sophie.

[@AndrewMartinIsHere]

Thanks for this video Dr Kat ☺. I used to live in Elveden - where Maharajah Duleep Singh had been installed. I was lucky to tour around the Hall where he lived just before its contents were sold off by Christie's. His family's graves are well tended still to this day by the descendants.

[@user-lo8zu2he9b]

Really enjoyable

[@kidmohair8151]

I think that princess and all, Sophia shows that the rights we *do* have were not granted, nor are they inalienable, but must be fought for, and jealously guarded once acquired. excelsior!

[@naurrr]

love videos about suffragettes thanks for sharing this!!!

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

Sarah Parker Redmond, who came to Britain from the US to talk about and gain support for the abolition of slavery, was a very early suffragette and of African descent…she might be a good topic of discussion. The attitude toward women of color by white suffragettes in the US was inexcusable. Women like Ms. Redmond had to march separately from white suffragettes and were not allowed to attend conventions of the largest organization. They had separate suffragette organizations. They called for for universal suffrage, which many upper and middle class white women opposed. They were amazing and so courageous. It took a 100 years but it was the hard, dangerous work of women of African descent which finally brought about the Voting Rights Act. I enjoyed this presentation very much and Sofia was amazing! From my own research I’m quite certain women were raped by the police in both countries. They were most certainly groped and threatened with sexual assault in both Britain and the US. My great grandmother horrified and scandalized her sons by cutting her hair and joining a right to vote march in San Antonio, Texas during which she was arrested. She kept her hair short the rest of her life. I can vote thanks to her and every other women who fought for it.

[@judycater2832]

A fascinating story. Thank you❤👑🥰 I think the grace and favor houses would make an interesting story. How it relates to the current Duke of York, what happened when Marion Crawford published her book about the two princesses and the woman in a g & f apartment caused a disastrous fire at Hampton Court Palace.

[@francearchambault4218]

Awesome video 😊🗳️🪧

[@Amc933]

Fascinating woman...thanks for sharing...

[@allisonconvery4984]

Brilliant xxx

[@catherineprater1485]

Thank you for this. 🤴 Fantastic. I’d like to learn more about Duleep Singh

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

👸👸👸👸 You're amazing!❤❤❤❤❤