The Royal Interview with Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil & Duke DeAndre Richardson of Rjpipla, India
- Roman Pantaleion
- May 9
- 8 min read
Updated: May 10
Much is reported about Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle of Sussex, and if you read Tatler you’re informed about most Royals throughout Europe. However, there is a royal couple a bit like Meghan and Harry who some may consider unorthodox. Another royal married to an American. That is Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of Rajpipla of the Gohil Dynasty and his husband Duke DeAndre Richardson of Albany, Oregon . Like many royals the couple fills their time in various charities and causes, but this couple fights for a cause that they more than believe in. They live it. They fight for the rights of LGBTQ people across India. Prince Manvendra, previously entered into an arranged marriage to a woman, divorced, and came out in 2006. Amidst death threats and threats of violence from his subjects he also battled with being disowned by his family leading him to a nervous breakdown. He speaks candidly in interviews about his experiences and the help he was able to get and finding love for the first time in his now husband of 12 years Duke DeAndre Richardson, an American born makeup artist with the cosmetics line Origins. The couple met on social media and for the most part had a platonic relationship. After a few visits to India that friendship blossomed into love. After 10 years of marriage the royal couple released their book, “A Royal Commitment: Ten Years of Marriage and Activism” a memoir of their journey thus far. Duke DeAndre Richardson also previously married, hasn't had as much of a public life as Prince Manvendra, but the two together are what many would call a royal power couple using their platform to spread awareness and partner with various organisations to make a better India.
Q for Prince Manvendra) Imaginably, coming out as a royal when you did in 2006 was traumatic and with no blueprint. You were the first. Reflecting, years later would you have done anything differently, if so, what?
HRH Prince Manvendra:
Coming out in 2006 was not just an act of personal liberation—it was a necessary rebellion against silence. It was terrifying, yes, but it was also the most honest moment of my life. I bore the weight of tradition, societal expectations, and fear. I endured death threats, familial estrangement, and public humiliation. And yet, I found peace in the truth of who I am. If I could go back, I would not change the act of coming out—but I would remind that younger version of myself to hold compassion for those who could not understand. In breaking the silence, I broke the cycle for others. That is a legacy I would never rewrite.
Q for Duke DeAndre) Many people, especially Americans can imagine how one must change when entering a royal family. Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco, Wallis Simpson or Duchess Meghan Markle, how did you prepare for your role? What would you say you gave up for this new life and would you say you’ve gained?
HH Duke DeAndre:
Nothing truly prepares you for royal life—especially when your royalty is tied not only to protocol, but to profound cultural and generational responsibility. I didn’t walk into this life expecting titles. I walked in choosing love. What I gave up? Anonymity. Simplicity. The freedom to be seen without projection. But what I’ve gained is sacred: a deeper purpose, a global platform, and a partner whose heart is as committed to justice as mine. I now live in service—not just to my husband—but to a vision of the world where authenticity is not punished, but celebrated.
Q for Both) You mention in a few interviews that the two of you met via social media, which platform, if you don’t mind, did you meet on?
A Prince Manvendra) HRH Prince Manvendra:
We met on a social platform called Tagged—a space neither of us expected would lead to anything beyond casual conversation. But the universe had other plans. In our messages, we found common ground, mutual respect, and eventually, love. Sometimes the most unexpected places are where the truest connections begin.
A Duke DeAndre) HH Duke DeAndre:
Yes, Tagged was where it began. Two people from completely different worlds, brought together by curiosity and spirit. It started as friendship, long conversations, learning each other’s stories. Over time, that foundation became a bond rooted in trust, purpose, and eventually, destiny. Social media was simply the spark—our hearts did the rest.
Q for Duke DeAndre) You were previously a makeup artist for a major cosmetics brand. Do you sometimes miss beating a face or do you sneak backstage at fashion week to give some pointers? Also, what are some of your favorite brands today?
HH Duke DeAndre:
Makeup was my first canvas for storytelling. I do miss it sometimes—the ritual, the transformation, the intimacy of helping someone see themselves anew. I occasionally get the urge and still play with looks for friends or for fun. My favorite brands today? Pat McGrath for innovation, Fenty Beauty for inclusion, and Danessa Myricks for artistry. They remind me that beauty is power—and it can also be protest.
Q for Prince Manvendra) What is your hope for the future of LGBTQ people in India?
HRH Prince Manvendra:
My hope is not only for legal recognition, but for true cultural transformation. I envision an India where queer youth do not fear abandonment. Where love is not criminalized. Where spirituality and sexuality are not at odds. We are reclaiming ancient truths, and I believe a renaissance is coming—rooted in compassion, education, and courage.
Q for Both) With the rollback of LGBTQ & DEI rights and laws in the USA and Trinidad & Tobago re-criminalising homosexuality do you think this will affect the way other countries behave when it comes to marginalised communities?
A Prince Manvendra) HRH Prince Manvendra:
Absolutely. When powerful nations regress, it sends signals to others. It emboldens hatred. But it also wakes up a resistance. We cannot afford complacency. Our fight must be louder, more united, and more strategic than ever.
A Duke DeAndre) HH Duke DeAndre:
Regression is a symptom of fear—fear of change, fear of difference. But love is louder. Every time a door closes, we find a window. We’re not backing down. We’re organizing, storytelling, building communities across borders. Our joy, our marriage, our existence—is already a revolution.
Q for Duke DeAndre) What are some LGBTQ programs you’re working with or are establishing in India?
HH Duke DeAndre:
We are expanding wellness-based programs that merge cultural tradition with healing—queer-led yoga, trauma recovery workshops, creative arts, and vocational skills. These aren’t just services; they are lifelines. We are building spaces where queerness is not just tolerated but honored.
Q for Prince Manvendra) Can you tell readers more about the Lakysha Trust?
HRH Prince Manvendra:
Lakshya Trust was born from my own experience of rejection. It serves as a sanctuary and advocacy hub for LGBTQ people, particularly those living with HIV. We offer education, legal aid, and shelter. But more than that—we offer belonging. We are not just saving lives—we are restoring dignity.
Q for Both) Are children in your future?
A Prince Manvendra) HRH Prince Manvendra:
Perhaps not biologically, but in every sense of nurturing, mentoring, and guiding—we already have many children. Those we serve become family.
A Duke DeAndre) HH Duke DeAndre:
Yes, our hearts are already fathers. Whether through formal adoption or through the lives we touch—we are building a legacy of love that reaches beyond blood.
Q for Both) Where do you two call home?
A Prince Manvendra) HRH Prince Manvendra:
Home is Rajpipla, where our roots run deep. But home is also wherever we are together—advocating, healing, growing.
A Duke DeAndre) HH Duke DeAndre:
Home is not a place, but a vibration. It's in the eyes of my husband, in the laughter of the people we uplift, in the quiet moments when we dream of justice.
Q for Both) What will your legacy be?
A Prince Manvendra) HRH Prince Manvendra:
That I lived truthfully, loved fearlessly, and helped dismantle walls of prejudice for the next generation.
A Duke DeAndre) HH Duke DeAndre:
That I turned pain into purpose, fashion into activism, and marriage into a movement. That I made royalty human—and humanity royal.
Q for Both) What can readers take away from your memoir?
A Prince Manvendra) HRH Prince Manvendra:
That even tradition must evolve. That love, when rooted in truth, can survive anything.
A Duke DeAndre) HH Duke DeAndre:
That we are all worthy of love, of space, of legacy. That living authentically is the greatest gift you can give yourself—and the world.
Q for Duke DeAndre) Being that gay marriage isn’t yet legal in India you have to travel back and forth every 180 days out of the country. Is there any updates or ideas as to when this might change? Are you personally working to try and change this?
HH Duke DeAndre:
I am working alongside Indian allies to shift the conversation—legally and spiritually. We host roundtables, collaborate with advocacy groups, and are using A Royal Commitment as both a love story and a policy tool. Change is coming. Slowly, but powerfully.
Q for Prince Manvendra) In researching to interview the two of you I see that you, also like Duchess Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, have broken protocol with appearing in reality shows such as Undercover Princes, the Kardashians, on Talk shows, appearing on Oprah three times. Do you feel that social media and sharing one's life with the public would help monarchies around the world to be relevant as times progress?
HRH Prince Manvendra:
Absolutely. Monarchies must evolve or dissolve. Relevance comes from transparency, relatability, and courage. By sharing our stories, we offer people a new archetype of leadership—one grounded in empathy.
Q for Both) In preparing for this interview I watched Prince Manvendra’s season on Undercover Prince and admittedly you are quite the humour person. I was, I guess surprised that a royal who was born into a strict upbringing filled with protocol would be so funny. Are you still in touch with the other Princes and would the two of you be interested in a reality show? I mean I could certainly see you both on Bravo or MTV at the helms of a show following the first out gay royals.
A Prince Manvendra) HRH Prince Manvendra:
If it uplifts, educates, and celebrates authentic queer life—then yes. With joy.
A Duke DeAndre) HH Duke DeAndre:
Only if it’s raw, real, and reflects our humor, our hustle, and our heart. We’re not interested in fame. We’re here to shift culture.
Q for Both) You’ve started an LGBT homeless shelter on 15 acres of land gifted to you by Prince Manvendra’s father. What programs will the shelter have in order to help the people to advance in life?
Both:
Life-skills training, mental health support, creative expression labs, and sustainable agriculture projects. We are not just sheltering people—we are resurrecting futures.
Q for Both) To close, I’ve recently been in a space of listening to our ancestors and the ways in which they help to guide us. I wonder if either of you can think of a piece of advice or something a relative has said or done that has inspired you in your life's journey?
A Prince Manvendra) HRH Prince Manvendra:
My grandmother, a quiet yet formidable woman, once told me, “Royalty is not about power—it’s about responsibility. Protect the people, even when they do not understand you.” I carry that with me every day. Her grace in silence, and strength in tradition, gave me the courage to break those very traditions when they no longer served justice.
A Duke DeAndre) HH Duke DeAndre:
My mother, with all her resilience and fire, used to say, “Don’t be afraid of being too much for the world—maybe the world needs more of you.” That stayed with me. As a queer man navigating both the royal world and activist spaces, I’ve often felt misunderstood. But I’ve learned to take up space with love, purpose, and power—just as she taught me.
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