Former Indian royal Gayatri Devi dies

The former queen of the western Indian desert kingdom of Jaipur, Gayatri
Devi, who was often described as one of the most beautiful women in the
world, died today in  Jaipur. She was 90.

Gayatri Devi, who also served three times as a national lawmaker, was
hospitalized for about 10 days with stomach and respiratory problems before
she died, her doctor S.C. Kala said.

Gayatri Devi's classical good looks ensured that photographs of her in
elegant chiffon saris and diamonds and pearls were splashed across fashion
and lifestyle magazines. She was also known for her love of horses and polo.

She was born into the royal family of Cooch Behar in what is now eastern
India on May 23, 1919, decades before the partition of the subcontinent that
heralded the demise of Indian royalty. She became the third wife of Sawai
Man Singh, the "maharaja" or ruler of Jaipur, in 1939. Gayatri Devi was the
"maharani."

More than 500 such royal families ruled parts of India and received "privy
purses" or payments from British colonial rulers. When India became
independent in 1947 royal titles were abolished and payments cut off.
Several royal households slipped into penury but the former Jaipur royal
family remained wealthy, converting some former palaces into luxury hotels.