Princess Sita Devi of Pithapuram

Maharani Sita Devi of Baroda, Princess of Pithapuram also popularly referred to as Maharanee of Baroda (12 May 1917 – 15 February 1989) was known as the "Indian Wallis Simpson". She was socialite, royal and a member of the international jet set.

Biography Sita Devi was Born in Madras, British India on the 12th of May 1917 as Maharajkumari (Honorary Princess) Sita Devi of Pithapuram to Maharaja of Pithapuram, Sri Raja Rao Venkata Kumara Mahipati Surya Rau Bahadur Garu and his wife, Sri Rani Chinnamamba Devi daughter (of Mirzapuram, Nuzvid Zamindari).

Sita Devi first married Meka Rangaiah Appa Rao Bahadur, Zamindar of Vuyyuru.

She met her second husband, Pratap Singh Gaekwad of Baroda, at the Madras horse races in 1943.

The couple also made two trips to the United States after the war. They went on a spending spree, buying all types of luxurious items. It was widely reported they spent $10 million on one of those trips. Indian officials audited the principality's finances. They concluded the Gaekwad had taken several large interest-free loans from the Baroda treasury. They demanded that these be returned. The prince complied by making several payments from his $8 million-a-year income.

She bore Gaekwad one child, a son, Sayaji Rao Gaekwad (8 March 1945 – 8 May 1985). Nicknamed "Princie", he was the apple of her eye. She attended exclusive events and partied with other international luminaries, such as Aristotle Onassis.

In 1953, she sold a pair of bejewelled anklets to Harry Winston. They had several large emeralds and diamonds. The jeweller set these stones into a spectacular necklace that was bought by the Wallis, Duchess of Windsor. The Duchess wore this to a 1957 New York ball also attended by Sita Devi. When other guests were admiring the necklace. The Maharani was heard to exclaim that those jewels looked just as nice on her feet. The embarrassed Duchess returned the necklace to Winston.

The Maharani was a car enthusiast and was reportedly very fond of her Mercedes W126, which was custom made for her by Mercedes-Benz. At the 1969 Ascot Gold Cup she invited guests to touch the sapphire on her right hand for good luck.

After the dissolution of her second marriage, she clung to her exalted title. Her Rolls-Royce still sported the armorial insignia of Baroda. She would reminisce about the days when she was a Queen and received 101-gun salutes. Prince Rainier awarded citizenship of Monaco to both Sita Devi and Princie.

She maintained a Paris apartment as well. She continued to live in grand style, drinking Baron de Rothschild's Bordeaux, rearranging her Louis XVI furniture and attending exclusive parties. When travelling she brought along a large wardrobe, reported to be a thousand saris, hundreds of pairs of shoes and of course her jewellery. But her finances were eventually reduced enough for her to secretly auction some of her beloved jewels in 1974.

The Maharani suffered a tragedy which broke her heart in 1985, when Prince died by committing suicide at age 40. His death was attributed to alcoholism and drug addiction. Sita Devi died four years later of natural causes bedridden and ill.

Titles 1917–1935 : Maharajkumari Sita Devi of Pithapuram 1935–1943 : Maharajkumari Sita Devi, Zamindarini of Vuyyur 1943–1955 : Her Highness, Maharani Sita Devi, Maharani of Baroda