Harper’s Bazaar, August 2008
The Princess Diaries
With all the hype surrounding high-maintenance celebrity royalty, Aimee Chan discovers that being truly regal is about poise, grace and simplicity.
Leaving your own world renowned royal city steeped in history and jetting into Asia to attend a polo tournament. Flying off to Sydney and getting your hair styled. Being interviewed by Harper's Bazaar in Singapore. Sounds like a glamorous life fit for a princess? Absolutely.
This is the fairy tale-like style schedule of the past few days for Princess Bhargavi Kumari Mewar of Udaipur, India – in town for a few days to attend the Cartier International Polo 2008 tournament. And once she appears for our shoot in her gorgeous sorbet pink sari (which is heavier than it looks with all its beading and intricate embroidery), and starts taking in her chic international accent (with a decided hint of British breeding), the princess cuts a suitably imposing figure.
What's strange is that she isn't really intimidating at all. In fact, Arvi (as she introduces herself to me) seems a very approachable and friendly person, and if she's a little restrained, it seems more from shyness than a sense of inflated self-importance. Rather than being energised about her appearance at the gala function tonight, she confesses to being tired – she has only just flown in from India, after all – and, throughout our interview, is far more realistic and practical than I expected for someone who straddles the dual worlds of high aristocracy and celebrity.
Arvi acknowledges that the presumption of snobbery commonly comes with her title. “People expect you to be disconnected with reality. They expect you to not be living in real time and in the world, and they think your thoughts and views are set in the past,” she says with a sigh. “I don't know why though, because that shouldn't be the case for anyone, no matter their situation. People seem to be quite surprised when they meet me.”
So what is it like to be a princess? “It's a very privileged position to be in”, she comments thoughtfully after a pause. “At the same time, it comes with enormous responsibility. When you have a legacy and family history like mine, you feel the need to rise to a lot of expectations and not let people down, while at the same time not letting yourself down.” When I wonder how she manages to strike this balance, the princess gives me the kind of sensible answer that sets the tone for the rest of our interview. “It's not hard if you keep it simple and keep things and perspective. If you don't take yourself too seriously then than you won't create further complication,” she smiles reassuringly.
Indeed, the type of level-headed attitude pervades every aspect of the princess' demeanour. I ask her about her pre-event rituals for getting ready, expecting a long diva's list of must-dos and don'ts. Instead she insists that simplicity is key, although she acknowledges “this doesn't always well with Indian clothes and jewels. They tend to be quite an elaborate affair.” This sounds like a contradiction – and uncomplicated outlived styled by highly decorated fashion?
“If you're comfortable in your own skin it outflows into your clothes or your jewellery and you must have a very personal sense of self. That which is comfortable and can be carried forward with a grace and elegance is an important part of saying whether someone is stylish or well turned out,” the princess confides.

This approach certainly reflects in Arvi's own sense of style. Her favourite clothes when she's is not sweeping into gala events are her jeans and airy fabrics such as Indian cotton. There is very little of the high maintenance in her attitude to her appearance – she openly shares her hairdressing tips with me privately gives me a glimpse of her father's recent Christmas present – a gorgeous elaborate bejewelled necklace and earring in green and pearl tones.
Whatever my preconceptions before we met, it's clear to me now that being a princess is not just about what to wear to the next party – it's about finding a positive way to maintain one's dignity and sense of self while reconciling so many competing demands and interests – a position not unlike that which most high powered women face. For Princess Arvi, I realize, as our chatter enthusiastically moves on to the merits of Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns versus The Kite Runner, this is achieved by paring back her approach. 'You won't let yourself down as long as you have an understanding of what is reasonable to be expected of you and what is misconception. At the end of the day you won't make everyone happy. So that's a trap to be avoided.” So there's that mantra again: keep it simple. A philosophy fit for a princess.

Princess Bhargavi Kumari Mewar of Udaipur

A Day in the Life
After a whirlwind day of interviews and hobnobbing, Princess Arvi headed to the Singapore Polo Club. As the guest of honour at the Cartier International Polo 2008 tournament, she was on hand to perform the ball throw-in ceremony and mingled with guests at the gala dinner, which consisted of delicacies such as Codfish Curry with Bindi Pyaaza. The night's event also raised funds for the Pistorio Foundation with a raffle.