Who is Avanti, the Indian girl whom Princess Diana called 'my daughter'

It was the spring of 1992 and Princess Diana was on a royal visit to India. When she visited Hyderabad’s Lalapet Government High School, she was captivated by a little girl, wearing tribal clothes and accessories. What happened after this, became not just the most famous part of Princess Diana’s India tour, but it marked a lifetime moment for the four-year-old Avanti Reddy, who is now a grown-up 37-year-old woman.

The Daughter she saw in Avanti

Avanti, with her fellow dancing mates, was performing a tribal Lambadi dance to welcome the royals. When Avanti was sitting on the ground, Princess Diana picked her up and took her to the stage and put Avanti on her lap.




Avanti told The Daily Mail, “She asked me what my name was, so I told her and which my school was and class. I had a cold so she wiped my nose with her own handkerchief.” The Duchess of Wales was known for her love for children. Avanti remembers, “She was a very motherly figure, I can remember that. She said "I don't have a daughter, so today you are my daughter.”

The bond beyond

It wasn’t just this moment that created the beautiful bond between Princess Diana and Avanti. After her India tour, they later concentrated through mails. Avanti said to Daily Mail, “'I used to show the letter she sent me to everybody.” Princess Diana even sent Avanti a signed photograph of them together.

However, Avanti’s dream of meeting Diana again never happened, as the Princess was killed in an accident when Avanti was just 10 years old.

Where is Avanti now

Even today, 37-year-old Avanti is as colorful as ever. Avanti had been a pre-primary teacher at the city's Infant Jesus School, which her mother had opened before retiring - for nine years since she was 18. She completed a degree in dance at the same time, graduating in 2007, but settled down to concentrate on starting a family.

Avanti said to the Daily Mail, “It's been too long since I danced. Maybe if I go back to work in a school again, I could start a production. Maybe one day I could organize a dance for Prince George and Princess Charlotte when they grow up.”

Avanti’s heartbreaking loss as a mother

Around 2017, Avanti’s family suffered a devastating loss of her one-year-old daughter, Moksha Ragni. With tears in her eyes, she told the Daily Mail, “Her name means Queen of Heaven.” Her daughter had breathing problems.

What Avanti wishes for future

According to Daily Mail, although she doesn't feel ready yet, Avanti would like to one day go back to teach in a primary school, and work on some choreography herself to one day present to the next generation of royals. Right now I'm not sure of my ambitions. Everything is fresh for me now. I don't have any plans, but I like roaming and seeing new things.