Radhikaraje

Radhikaraje Gaekwad is the Maharani of Baroda.

Early life, education and family

She was born on 19 July 1978 to Ranjitsinh Jhala of Wankaner and his wife Kalpana Kumari. She completed her preliminary education in Delhi and later at Mayo College Girls’ School in Ajmer. She did her undergraduate and graduate studies in Indian history from Lady Shri Ram College, a constituent college of the University of Delhi.
She worked as a writer for the Indian Express following the completion of her undergraduate studies. She worked as a journalist for three years before getting married.
She married on 27 February 2002 in New Delhi to Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, the heir-apparent of Baroda. She and her husband have two children: Padmajaraje and Narayaniraje.

Titles, styles, and honours

Titles and styles

Before her marriage, she was styled as Rajkumari of Wankaner. Upon her marriage in 2002, Radhikaraje became Yuvarani of Baroda. Upon her father-in-law’s death on 9 May 2012, her husband automatically succeeded to the throne of Baroda and Radhikaraje became the Maharani as per family custom. Since the coronation of her husband on 22 June 2012, she is styled as Her Highness the Maharani.
Her complete styles and titles since 2012 are: Her Highness Maharani Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Radhikaraje Sahib Gaekwad, the Maharani of Baroda.