Her Royal Highness has been feted for her contribution in the field of literature and education. She is the only foreign recipient of the Padma Bhushan award this year.

The ceremony was attended by the Vice President of India Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Speaker of the Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan along with other dignitaries.

The Indian government had received 18,000 nominations for various awards. The announcement was made on January 25 on the eve of Republic Day.

Her Royal Highness is also the recipient of Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development (2004) and first World Sanskrit Award (2016) awarded by India.