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| Jaipur funeral for Indian royal | Jaipur funeral for Indian royal |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The funeral of one of the last Indian royals, Gayatri Devi, has taken place at the Jaipur cremation grounds used by the former royal family. | |
| Gayatri Devi, once described as one of the most beautiful women in the world, died on Wednesday at the age of 90. | Gayatri Devi, once described as one of the most beautiful women in the world, died on Wednesday at the age of 90. |
| She was admitted to hospital in Jaipur about 10 days ago with stomach and respiratory problems. | |
| Born into a royal family, she became the third wife of Sawai Man Singh, the Maharajah of Jaipur, in 1939. | |
| Thousands of people gathered in the Rajasthani city of Jaipur for part of the funeral ceremony. | |
| Her body was laid out in the City Palace in Jaipur on Thursday for public mourning. | |
| After a rifle salute from troops, the wood pyre was lit in a low-key all-male ceremony, according to Hindu tradition. | |
| Jail | Jail |
| Gayatri Devi was born into the royal family of Cooch Behar in 1919. | Gayatri Devi was born into the royal family of Cooch Behar in 1919. |
| She supported education for women and founded a prestigious school in Jaipur, now the capital of Rajasthan state. | She supported education for women and founded a prestigious school in Jaipur, now the capital of Rajasthan state. |
| In an interview with The Times of India, she recalled as a young girl going out hunting, sitting on the neck of an elephant. | In an interview with The Times of India, she recalled as a young girl going out hunting, sitting on the neck of an elephant. |
| She became the third Maharani of Jaipur in 1939, marrying into a lavish lifestyle. | She became the third Maharani of Jaipur in 1939, marrying into a lavish lifestyle. |
| The family, in effect, ruled the city of Jaipur and the surrounding area in the western Indian desert kingdom. | The family, in effect, ruled the city of Jaipur and the surrounding area in the western Indian desert kingdom. |
| They spent the summers in Europe and educated their children at elite schools in England. | They spent the summers in Europe and educated their children at elite schools in England. |
| Gayatri Devi and her husband spent the summers in Europe | Gayatri Devi and her husband spent the summers in Europe |
| Gayatri Devi loved tennis and polo, and was a talented horse rider, while her taste in saris and jewellery, inherited from her mother, made her a glamorous fashion icon. | Gayatri Devi loved tennis and polo, and was a talented horse rider, while her taste in saris and jewellery, inherited from her mother, made her a glamorous fashion icon. |
| Vogue magazine once listed her among the "World's Ten Most Beautiful Women". | Vogue magazine once listed her among the "World's Ten Most Beautiful Women". |
| The fashion icon broke with tradition and won popular support when she was elected to parliament in 1962. She was re-elected twice. | |
| During the 1970s, the then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi abolished the last royal privileges, and Gayatri Devi was jailed for five months for violating tax laws. | During the 1970s, the then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi abolished the last royal privileges, and Gayatri Devi was jailed for five months for violating tax laws. |
| In later life, Gayatri Devi became known affectionately as Rajmata, or Queen Mother, still greatly admired for her natural grace and beauty. | In later life, Gayatri Devi became known affectionately as Rajmata, or Queen Mother, still greatly admired for her natural grace and beauty. |
| She is survived by two grandchildren. | She is survived by two grandchildren. |