Ella Atherton


Ella Atherton was a Scottish-born actress who married an Indian maharaja. After marriage in 1940, she was also known as Ila Devi Rajpipla; Maharani Ella Devi of Rajpipla or H.H. Maharani Ella Devi Sahiba.

Early life

Atherton was born in Edinburgh.

Career

Atherton was a silent movie actress, known for her roles in The First Born and Human Cargo. She was also a successful model. After she married an Indian prince, she abandoned her acting career to pursue other interests, including tiger hunting.

Personal

Atherton married Maharana Shri Sir, Maharaja of Rajpipla, on 5 January 1940. He was a socialite, race horse owner and an accomplished polo player. She was his third wife. He received a knighthood from King George V in the 1925 New Year Honours. Atherton referred to him as ‘Pip’. They had a son and a daughter together, both born in England.
The couple had numerous homes, including the Indrajit-Padmini Mahal, or Vadia Palace, where they lived between the years 1934 and 1939. After Indian independence, she retired with her husband to a mansion on Church Road, Old Windsor, in Berkshire. Her husband died there in 1951. She died in May 1995, aged 89 years, in Surrey.