The Maharani, every inch glamerious, was also every inch scandalous. She was originally married to Apparao Bahadur, Zamindar of Vayyur, whom she had three children by. After she met her second husband, Pratap of Baroda, the Maharani, through legal action converted to Mohammedan, of a follower of Islamic prophet Muhammad. This would dissolve her marriage to the Zamindar under Indian law. She embraced Islam only to then adopt Hinduism once again. This caused much tension with the British autorties, and after a few pushes and tugs, the British accepted it, however they would never address the Maharani Sita Devi properly, neglecting her the traditional address of “Your Highness”.
The Maharaja and Maharani, lived in a life of sheer luxury, but India was on the path of being united into one country, and the royal couple feared the integration of the princely states into the Union threaten their extravagant way of life. So they set up to find a new home, the Principality of Monaco! They bought a mansion in Monte Carlo and the Maharani took up permanent residence. The Maharaja visited often, bringing some of the great treasures of Baroda to Monaco. The Maharani became the custodian of these treasures. The couple also made two trips to the United States after the war. They went on a spending spree, buying all types of luxurious items. It was widely reported they spent $10 million on one of those trips. This was much to the Indian government's chagrin. Indian officials audited the principality's finances. They concluded the Maharaja had taken several large interest-free loans from the Baroda treasury. They demanded it be returned. The prince complied by making several payments from his $8 million-a-year income.
In 1951, the Maharaja had to step down, due to fraud, and his son took over the title, and control. Technically, the couple were not heads of state any longer, but they insisted on still being referred by their former titles.
In 1953 the Maharani sold a pair of bejeweiled anklets to Harry Winston. They had several large emeralds and diamonds. The jeweller set these stones into a spectacular necklace that was bought by the Duchess of Windsor. The Duchess wore this to a 1957 New York ball also attended by Sita Devi. When other guests were admiring the necklace. The Maharani was heard to exclaim that those jewels looked just as nice on her feet. The embarrassed Duchess returned the necklace to Winston. Catty Much? The Maharani was a car enthusiast and was reportedly very fond of her Mercedes W126, which was custom made for her by Mercedes-Benz. At the 1969 Ascot Gold Cup she invited guests to touch the 30-carat (6.0 g) sapphire on her right hand for good luck. Esquire Magazine included Sita Devi and Princie on its list of "fun couples" for 1969. She was nicked name the Indian Wallis Simpson.
Despite her Divorce from the Maharaja in 1956, she held onto her title and lavish life. She was seen as one of the most celebrated guests from New York, to London, Paris, and all the hot spots between India and Europe. She maintained a Paris apartment as well. She continued to live in grand style, drinking Baron de Rothschild’s Bordeaux, rearranging her Louis XVI furniture and attending exclusive parties. When travelling she brought along a large wardrobe, reported to be a thousand saris, hundreds of paris of shoes and of course her jewelry. But her finances were eventually exhausted enough for her to secretly auction some of her beloved jewels in 1974.After the suicide of the apple of her eye, her son in 1985, the Maharani died four years later in 1989, of natural causes, although gossip claims of a broken heart for her son.
Being Married to the 8th richest man at the time wasn’t good enough? Well here is an insight to some of jewels she owned, as “custodian” of the Baroda Royal Jewels.
Four celebrated pearl carpet, one or all four (the source’s aren’t clear) were sold to an Arab prince for $31 million. A three-strand diamond necklace with the famous Pink Brazilian Star of the South 128.80-carat diamond. The English Dresden 78.53-carat (15.71 g) diamond. he princely couple also had custody of the Empress Eugenie and the yellow Moon of Baroda diamonds. Ah, these are only a tease of what they had!
The Star of the South inserted into the Royal Necklace
Magnificent Emerald Drop and Diamond Necklace and Ear Pendant
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