My personal style signifier is a tailored bandhgala jacket with a pocket square in the five colours of Jaipur’s flag – the Pachranga. There is an incredible tailor here in Jaipur, Raja Singh, who has worked with our family for three generations and is a household figure to all of us. When he was a young man just starting out, my grandfather invited him to make a jacket for Prince Charles, now King Charles III, who was visiting. He arrived in the evening after dinner, took his measurements and before the Prince left in the morning, he had his bandhgala ready. He still loves it. I usually wear one with buttons that my grandmother made from a bucketful of gems.
A white bandhgala jacket is Sawai Padmanabh Singh’s style signifier © Raajadharshini
The last thing I bought and loved was a horse. As I am a polo player, that never changes. I’m always saving up for horses. The last one I got is a mare, and she’s on her way to India from Argentina, the world’s polo powerhouse. I got her from one of Argentina’s polo champions.
The place that means a lot to me is the City Palace in Jaipur, where I live [Singh is the head of the Kachhwaha clan, the erstwhile royal family of the princely state of Jaipur]. It’s a large complex and museum with gardens, temples, buildings, galleries and a school. One of the most special places is the Jantar Mantar, the astronomical observatory next to the palace built by Jaipur’s founder, Maharaja Jai Singh II. I take great pride in being from Jaipur, a Rajasthani. Our state and people possess an immense and rich history – we’ve endured so many struggles and protected our people, customs and ways of life. We’re a very proud community.
