New Delhi - Maharani Gayatri Devi, former queen of the erstwhile Indian princely state of Jaipur and known in her heyday as one of the most beautiful women in the world, died Wednesday at the age of 90, hospital officials in Jaipur said.

"Gayatri Devi, who fell ill in London with a gastric problem, was flown to Jaipur in an air ambulance when she expressed a desire to return. She was admitted to the SDMH Hospital on July 17 but developed respiratory complications and died peacefully," IANS news agency quoted an SDMH official as saying.

Born into the royal family of Cooch Behar in India's eastern state of West Bengal in 1919, Gayatri Devi grew up in a palace with 500 servants and shot her first panther at the age of 12.

She married the maharaja of Jaipur Sawai Man Singh II in 1939. Gayatri Devi was his third queen.

Known to be an accomplished equestrienne, Gayatri Devi was an avid polo fan. She was a socialite but engaged in various charitable activities, promotion of handicrafts and took special interest in the area of education in Jaipur, now capital of India's Rajasthan state.

She started the Maharani Gayatri Devi School for Girls and revived the dying art of blue pottery.

In 1962, Gayatri Devi entered politics and was elected to India's Parliament by a resounding margin. She served three stints in parliament but left politics after five months in jail on a tax evasion case in 1971 which she claimed was trumped up by political rivals.

Chosen as one of the 10 most beautiful women in the world in her youth by Vogue magazine Gayatri Devi was a style icon in India in her trademark chiffon and pearls.

She had a house in London but spent most of her time in her mansion in Jaipur on the grounds of one of the family palaces which has been turned into a luxury hotel.

Gayatri Devi's only son Jagat Singh died in 1997 and her grandchildren live abroad.

Her funeral is scheduled to be held Thursday.(dpa)