Princess Sophia Duleep Singh

This photograph shows Princess Sophia Duleep Singh selling 'The Suffragette' newspaper outside Hampton Court in April 1913. After the annexation of the Punjab in 1849, Princess Sophia's family travelled to Britain. Her father, Duleep Singh, was a close friend of Queen Victoria and the family were given use of apartment rooms at Hampton Court. Princess Sophia was converted to the suffragette cause by Una Dugdale, and soon became a regular speaker at branch meetings of the Richmond Women's Social and Political Union. As a member of the Women's Tax Resistance League, Sophia was twice fined for non-payment of taxes. In 1910 a diamond ring was impounded for non-payment of taxes, and in 1914 a pearl necklace and gold bangle were also seized as punishment for her refusal to pay.