The Fascinating Story of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh and His Spanish Bride

A Royal Romance Across Continents

The Maharaja of Kapurthala, Jagatjit Singh (1872–1949), developed a deep affection for a young Spanish girl during his visit to Madrid. Anita Delgado (1890–1962), a flamenco dancer and the daughter of a humble café owner, left her homeland to become his fifth wife. After embracing Sikhism, she adopted the name Rani Prem Kaur Sahiba. Together, they welcomed a son, Prince Ajit Singh of Kapurthala, who was born on April 26, 1908. Like many royal offspring of his era, he received a prestigious education, attending Cambridge University before training at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. He later served as a diplomat for India in Buenos Aires and London.

Known as the Spanish Maharani, Anita eventually parted ways with the Maharaja amid rumors of infidelity and returned to Europe with her son. Upon her passing in 1962, her son ensured that her grave symbolized both her heritage and her life, adorned with a crown, a Sikh dagger, and a crucifix.

Details about Prince Ajit Singh's later years remain scarce. It is believed that he never married and passed away in New Delhi in 1984. Family narratives suggest he had feelings for an Argentinian woman, but her untimely death left him heartbroken, preventing him from marrying thereafter. Nonetheless, there are claims of a daughter. In 2009, Lebanese-American journalist Maha Akhtar revealed in her bestselling book, 'The Maharani’s Hidden Granddaughter,' that her quest for her birth certificate led to the revelation that she was Prince Ajit’s illegitimate daughter, a fact her mother confirmed on her deathbed. Maha even possesses an amethyst ring that once belonged to Anita.