New displays exploring the lives and legacies of Prince Frederick Duleep Singh and his siblings opened at Ancient House Museum in Thetford on 14th March.
The Prince Frederick Thetford Museum Project is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside Thetford Town Council, Breckland Council, the Friends of Thetford Museum, Norfolk County Council and Arts Council England.
Born in 1868, Prince Frederick was the second son of Maharajah Duleep Singh and Maharani Bamba. He grew up at Elveden Hall near Thetford with his sisters, Princesses Bamba, Catherine and Sophia, and brothers Princes Victor and Albert Edward. Educated at Eton and Cambridge, he studied history and served in the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry during the First World War.
Living in Norfolk, he filled his homes with art and antiquities and, in the early 1920s, purchased and donated the Ancient House Museum to the people of Thetford, along with some of his personal collections.
The new displays include a temporary exhibition marking the centenary of Prince Frederick’s death in 1926, alongside a permanent gallery dedicated to all six Duleep Singh siblings. Highlights include carved angels from Blo’ Norton Hall, artefacts linked to the museum’s founding, and material relating to Frederick’s efforts to preserve historic buildings such as St Peter Hungate in Norwich and Wymondham Abbey.
Works from his art collection by Sir Alfred Munnings and Leonard Squirrell are also on display, alongside his Yeomanry uniform and his own paintings of the Norfolk landscape.
Princess Sophia Duleep Singh’s suffrage activism is another key focus. She famously campaigned for women’s voting rights, even throwing herself in front of Prime Minister Asquith’s car. Items on display include a jewelled family ring and a rare suffragette hunger-strike medal awarded to Caprina Fahey.
Visitors can also see a contemporary portrait of Princess Catherine by Sikh artist Inkquisitive and Princess Bamba’s perfume bottle. The displays are accompanied by biographical information on all six siblings.
The new gallery also explores connections between the sisters’ activism and the ideas of Thetford-born writer Thomas Paine, whose work championed universal human rights.
The project has been supported by historian Peter Bance and Dr Priya Atwal of the University of Oxford. Curator Oliver Bone said the exhibition reveals the family’s remarkable stories and their deep links to Norfolk.
Upcoming events and activities
Alongside the exhibition, Ancient House Museum is offering a varied programme of events shaped by visitor feedback.
A new series of Children’s Workshops launches in 2026, each limited to 15 participants. The first session takes place on Saturday 25th April and explores Ancient Egypt, with opportunities to handle artefacts, learn about ancient beliefs and create a themed craft.
Later workshops will cover a range of topics, including writing secret spy letters, Anglo-Saxon wool weaving, First World War soldiers and knights in armour. Each session costs £4 per child and includes admission for one accompanying adult.
During the Easter holiday, families can also enjoy the Spring Sheep Trail, inspired by a painting by Prince Frederick Duleep Singh. Visitors can explore the museum, spot hidden sheep and win a themed craft kit. The trail is included with normal admission.
Home-educating families are invited to a Toys and Games Through the Ages workshop on Friday 17th April 2026. Aimed at children aged 4–7 (though older children are welcome), the session includes handling original and replica toys and making a traditional toy to take home.
For adults, a talk by heritage consultant Jess Johnston on Tuesday 14th April 2026 will explore the history and development of Diss, examining how the town has evolved alongside its distinctive historic buildings.
To book events, visitors can scan the QR code available at the museum.
