Rajmata Gayatri Devi passes away at 90

Former royal Rajmata Gayatri Devi died today at a Jaipur hospital after prolonged illness, doctors said. She was the third Maharani of Jaipur from 1939 to 1970 through marriage to HH Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II, and was styled as the Rajmata.

Charismatic former royal Rajmata Gayatri Devi, who had an eventful stint in politics and was jailed during Emergency, died at a hospital here today following prolonged illness. She was 90.

Once listed among the 'World's Ten Most Beautiful Women' by Vogue magazine and a style icon during her time, Devi was the founder of the Swatantra Party and a member of the third and fourth Lok Sabha.

She was admitted to Satokben Durlabh Memorial Hospital early this month and was discharged a few days ago but was readmitted yesterday for chest infestion.

"She recovered from her gastrointestinal problems but yesterday she was detected with a lung infection. Her condition deteriorated this morning and she succumbed to her illness," Dr Subhash Kala, who was attending on her, said.
The London-born princess of Cooch Behar was the third Maharani of Jaipur from 1939 to 1970 after her marriage to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and was later known as Rajmata or Queen Mother.