Sir Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala
(1891-1938), Indian rulerSitter in 18 portraits
Succeeded his father Sir Rajinder Singh upon his death, as Maharaja of Patiala. Educated at Aitchison College in Lahore, he took over the Government in 1910. An accomplished cricketer, he captained the India team that toured England in 1911. As a leader of the Sikhs in India he took an interest in Indian affairs. He showed loyalty to the British Empire by sending 28,000 of his men to fight in World War I. This lead to a further recruitment drive for volunteers. Almost 89,000 Sikhs fought for the British in the War. Singh unveiled the Southern Gateway of the Royal Pavilion in 1921, a gift from Indian Maharajas to thank Brighton for aiding wounded Indian soldiers. He was chancellor of the Indian Chamber of Princes (1926-30), and led the Indian States delegation at the Round Table Conference in London. The Maharaja lived an extravagant and opulent life of excess; he owned a fleet of custom-built Rolls-Royces and commissioned the 'Patiala Necklace' by Cartier, one of the most expensive pieces of jewellery ever made.
Sir Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 5 July 1911
NPG x98675
Sir Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 5 July 1911
NPG x98676
Sir Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 5 July 1911
NPG x98677
Sir Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 5 July 1911
NPG x98678
Sir Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 5 July 1911
NPG x98674
by Vandyk
10 x 12 inch glass negative, 25 June 1918
NPG x32125
Group including Sir Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala
by Vandyk
glass negative, 22 June 1918
NPG x34597
Sir Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala
by Vandyk
glass negative, 22 June 1918
NPG x34598
by Vandyk
10 x 12 inch glass negative, 25 June 1918
NPG x32126
by Vandyk
10 x 12 inch glass negative, 25 June 1918
NPG x32127
by Vandyk
10 x 12 inch glass negative, 25 June 1918
NPG x32124
by Vandyk
10 x 12 inch glass negative, 25 June 1918
NPG x130051
Sir Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala with members of his family
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 24 January 1931
NPG x130952
Sir Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala with members of his family
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 24 January 1931
NPG x130956
Sir Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala with members of his family
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 24 January 1931
NPG x130953
Sir Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala with members of his family
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 24 January 1931
NPG x130954
Sir Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala with members of his family
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 24 January 1931
NPG x130955
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