The Maharani had one son, Ajit Singh, who died in 1982. Her own marriage to the Maharaja ended in divorce. According to the author of a recently published book about the Kapurthala couple, their marriage ended in divorce after the Maharani fell in love with one of the Maharaja’s sons from a previous marriage. This claim has been denied by the Maharaja’s descendants who have been trying to block the making of a film about Delgado starring Penelope Cruz.

Christie’s estimates their total value at more than £200,000. Said Christie’s international director of Asian art Amin Jaffer: “These jewels are a symbol of cross-cultural love and taste, bringing together Indian princely patronage with the finest European craftsmanship and design.”