Empire: World History

Podbit · Empire: World History

372. The First British Indians: The Sisters Rejected By Queen Victoria (Ep 4)

Explore episode Jun 28, 2026

Where this was said

Frederick Duleep Singh Opens His Door to the Second Family

At 24:15 · chapter starts 21:55

The death of Duleep Singh left Pauline and Irene without support from virtually every quarter — except two. Frederick Duleep Singh, the antiquarian bachelor living quietly at Blow Norton in Norfolk and collecting Jacobite art, opened his home without condition to both girls. Sophia, too, acted as ambassador, welcoming them to Faraday House and even ensuring a photograph of Sophia, Ada, Pauline, and Irene was taken together. William remarks that Freddie's generosity stands out as one of the few genuinely decent acts in this story — always trust an antiquarian, he says, especially a Norfolk one. Freddie sometimes sent money to Ada anonymously, and his home at Blow Norton had adjoining coach houses prepared so the sisters could come and go as they pleased.

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