An Indian Princess in Doddinghurst

All Saints Church Doddinghurst

In May 2022, we hosted a special event to celebrate the fascinating story of Princess Helen Rundeer Singh Ahluwalia of Kapurthala, the Indian Princess who is buried at All Saints Church, Doddinghurst. There were talks in the church by Peter Bance, Sikh historian, and Caroline Seville, who worked at the church and has researched extensively into the life of Princess Helen. The talks were followed by a communal curry, served at the church hall.

More about the story

Sikh Historian and author Peter Bance has discovered the fascinating story of Princess Helen Rundeer Singh Ahluwalia of Kapurthala, an Indian Princess who is buried in All Saints Church, in Doddinghurst near Brentwood.

Peter Bance writes predominantly about the royal families of the Punjab, especially Maharajah Duleep Singh and his family who settled in East Anglia. There exists a strong Sikh heritage in East Anglia, in connection with the Duleep Singh family, but much of this history is in Norfolk, so when a new and important connection to Essex was discovered, it was paramount to find out more.

The story begins when Peter was curious about her name – Kapurthala is a kingdom in the Punjab. When he spoke to those in Doddinghurst, they affectionately referred to her as ‘Our Indian Princess’ but knew no details about her background. Peter decided to research further, contacting the current Maharajah of Kapurthala who invited him to the royal palace in India to learn more about Helen and her heritage.

He uncovered a fascinating story about this young woman, the daughter of Randhir Singh, the ruling Maharajah in the state of Kapurthala, and his third Rani Henrietta Melvina.When Rani Henrietta divorced the Raja in 1869 she and her daughter returned to London, where Helen entered London High Society. Often going out unchaperoned, she became quite a controversial figure, she was a model for artist Edwin Longsden Long, who, although now relatively obscure, was very well known at the time. Within his work, Helen could occasionally be seen in risqué poses, and some of her behaviour was seen as scandalous by the media of the time.

Helen died of Tuberculosis was she was only 23, after a retreat at her sister’s house in Kelvedon Hatch, and was laid to rest in All Saints Church, in Doddinghurst near Brentwood.

Thanks to a Community Fund grant from Brentwood Borough Council, Essex Cultural Diversity Project has been able to work with Sikh historian Peter Bance and staff and volunteers at All Saints Church to raise awareness of this fascinating heritage.

ECDP Radio: An Indian Princess in Essex

ECDP Radio features interviews with a wide range of Essex Cultural Diversity Project’s friends, partners, artists and arts organisations working in diversity, presented by Nita Jhummu. In this episode, Nita unearths the story of an Indian Princess buried in Doddinghurst Essex, with the help of Sikh Historian Peter Bance and Caroline Seville who used to manage the All Saints Church Graveyard.

Peter Bance talks to BBC Essex about the Indian Princess

In this interview on BBC Essex’s Essex Voices, Sikh Historian and author Peter Bance reveals the fascinating story of Princess Helen Rundeer Singh Ahluwalia of Kapurthala, an Indian Princess who lived in Essex and was buried in All Saints Church, in Doddinghurst near Brentwood.