Exhibition Highlights Life of Pioneering Suffragette Sophia Duleep Singh

A new exhibition titled _The Last Princesses of Punjab_ opens at Kensington Palace on March 26, 2026, coinciding with Women’s History Month and the 150th anniversary of Sophia Duleep Singh's birth. The exhibition chronicles the life of Sophia Duleep Singh, a Punjabi princess and pioneering suffragette, who challenged the elite social circles of her time. It runs until November and features personal letters, photographs, and artifacts that illustrate the complex identities and contributions of Sophia and her family.

The Guardian

Sophia Duleep Singh, the daughter of Duleep Singh, the last Sikh maharajah of the Punjab, was born into a life of privilege after her father surrendered his lands to the East India Company in 1849. Despite her aristocratic background, she became a devoted campaigner for women's rights. The exhibition highlights her activism, including her participation in the 1910 Black Friday suffragette march alongside Emmeline Pankhurst, where she reported police brutality to Winston Churchill. Notably, the display includes a bound volume of _The Suffragette_, showcasing her selling copies at Hampton Court Palace, where she resided.

The Guardian

The exhibition also emphasizes the roles of Sophia's family members, including her sisters Catherine and Bamba, her mother Bamba Muller, and her grandmother Jind Kaur. Catherine Duleep Singh notably supported Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, exemplified by a jewelled pendant she gifted to a young girl, Ursula Hornstein. The exhibition aims to present a global narrative of empire, dispossession, and resistance through the lens of these women's lives.

The Guardian

Polly Putnam, curator of collections for the Historic Royal Palaces, remarked on the exhibition's significance, stating, “This exhibition reveals a story of courage, identity and resistance told through the lives of extraordinary women.” Mishka Sinha, an exhibition historian, added that the women of Sophia's family navigated an extraordinary historical landscape while forging their own identities.

The Guardian

The exhibition not only celebrates the contributions of Sophia Duleep Singh and her family but also reflects on the intertwined histories of British and South Asian identities. It invites contemporary audiences to engage with the themes of courage and resistance, resonating with ongoing discussions about women's rights and social justice.

The Guardian

• “Polly Putnam, curator of collections for the Historic Royal Palaces, said: “This exhibition reveals a story of courage, identity and resistance told through the lives of extraordinary women.” — Polly Putnam, Curator of Collections for the Historic Royal Palaces

The Guardian

• “The women of her family lived through an extraordinary sweep of history, yet each found ways to exert influence and forge their own identity.” — Mishka Sinha, Exhibition Historian

The Guardian

The exhibition at Kensington Palace serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of Sophia Duleep Singh and her family's legacy in the fight for women's rights and social justice.

The Guardian