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Decades before celebrities flaunted luxury cars on social media, Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur was turning heads in elegant Bentleys that perfectly matched her style.
News18
Maharani Gayatri Devi was many things. A style icon, a princess, a politician, one of the world’s most admired women. But she was also a serious car enthusiast.
And she had a particular soft spot for Bentleys.
Born into the royal family of Cooch Behar and married to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur in 1940, Gayatri Devi belonged to a new generation of royals who embraced modern ideas while staying rooted in tradition.
She rode horses, played sports, travelled widely, and loved driving.
At a time when many royal women rarely appeared in public, Gayatri Devi was often seen behind the wheel or travelling across Jaipur in her favourite cars.
One of those cars was a Bentley reportedly gifted around the time of her marriage.
It marked the beginning of a lifelong association with one of Britain’s most prestigious automotive brands.
Soon, Jaipur’s royal garage became famous for its collection of luxury automobiles, including Rolls-Royces and Bentleys.
But the Bentleys became especially associated with the Maharani herself.
Among the most famous was a vintage Bentley 20 HP saloon, imported from England before Independence.
Decades later, the car would become a star attraction at a classic car exhibition in Jaipur, drawing crowds eager to catch a glimpse of royal motoring history.
What made Gayatri Devi’s Bentleys memorable wasn’t just their rarity.
It was what they represented. The cars reflected her personality perfectly: elegant, sophisticated and ahead of their time.
She wasn’t content to remain confined to palace walls. She travelled, met people, campaigned in elections and played an active role in public life.
Her Bentleys became an extension of that modern outlook.
Today, the surviving cars from Jaipur’s royal collection are prized pieces of automotive history. But they are also reminders of a remarkable woman who redefined what it meant to be a queen in modern India.
More than vintage automobiles, these Bentleys tell the story of Maharani Gayatri Devi herself—graceful, independent and effortlessly stylish.
A queen who didn’t just own luxury cars. She made them part of her legend.
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