During Mussolinis's invasion of Ethiopia Emperor Haile Selassie, Empress Menen and many members of their family were exiled in Bath, England.

Princess Seble completed all of her education in England, initially at Clarendon School for Girls and attended Lady Margaret Hall College, Oxford University.

In 1974, the military junta overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie and imprisoned the Imperial Family, including Princess Tenagne Worq and her daughters.

The imprisoned Imperial family spent 14 years in jail, initially under house arrest and then under steadily worsening conditions, until they were locked in a 15-foot cell in Alem Bekagn (the end of the world) prison.

After many years of campaigning by the British and other governments, human rights groups and especially the Destas' friends from school and college, the Imperial ladies were released in 1988.