The lives of Prince Frederick Duleep Singh and his siblings will open at Thetford's Ancient House Museum this Saturday (March 14).

Frederick Duleep Singh (Image: Norfolk Record Office)

Their father, Maharajah Duleep Singh, was the last Sikh ruler of the Punjab and after his kingdom was taken from him by the British in the 1840s he moved to the Elevden Estate, near Thetford.

For the next century the family continued to live in the region, including at Old Buckenham, Hockwold, Blo’ Norton, Breckles and Walcott.

His son, Prince Frederick, was the founder of Ancient House Museum, where new displays tell the story of the family.

Installation of exhibits at Ancient House Museum in Thetford (Image: Norfolk Museums Service)

Prince Frederick served as a member of the Norfolk Yeomanry during the First World War and also helped save numerous churches from closure.

This year marks the centenary of his death and a temporary exhibition explores his life.

Carved wooden glided angels from Prince Frederick's collection (Image: Norfolk Museums Service)

It includes objects from his home - such as carved wooden and gilded angels - and his art collection, featuring work by Sir Alfred Munnings.

The exhibition includes paintings from Prince Frederick's collection (Image: Norfolk Museums Service)

But the museum is also revealing its new, permanent display about his brothers and sisters - princesses Bamba, Catherine and Sophia, and princes Victor and Albert Edward.

Princess Catherine, having left her home in Germany, took in a series of German-Jewish refugees during the Second World War, saving them from the Nazis.

Princess Sophia Duleep Singh (Image: Norfolk Museums Service)

And Princess Sophia supported militant suffrage campaigns, once throwing herself in front of the prime minister's car while displaying a placard reading 'Give women the vote!'.

Jewelled ring owned by Princess Sophia Duleep Singh (Image: Norfolk Museums Service)

On display in the gallery are an early 19th century Indian jewelled ring from the family collection and a rare suffragette hunger-strike medal awarded to Caprina Fahey, who marched with Sophia during ‘Black Friday’ demonstrations in 1910.

Margaret Dewsbury (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)

Margaret Dewsbury, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for communities and partnerships, said: “Prince Frederick Duleep Singh did so much to preserve the heritage of Thetford and the Brecks, and it is wonderful to be able to celebrate his extraordinary generosity at Ancient House Museum.

Ancient House Museum in Thetford (Image: Supplied)

"We are grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting these new displays that will allow even more people to explore his legacy."

© Eastern Daily Press