Princess Sarvath El Hassan

Princess Sarvath El Hassan (née Sarvath Ikramullah) was born in Kolkata on July 24, 1947, to a prominent Muslim family of the Indian subcontinent. [http://www.elhassan.org/reg/sarvath/index3.html Princess Sarvath's Official Home Page: Biography, Family and Interests] ]

Family

Her father, the late Bhopal-born Mohammed Ikramullah, was a senior member of the Indian Civil Service in the Government of India prior to Partition. He went on to join the Partition Committee of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, later becoming Pakistan's first Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to Canada, France, Portugal and the United Kingdom. His last post was as Chairman of the Commonwealth Economic Committee. Her mother, the late Kolkata-born Begum Shaista Suhrawardy Ikramullah, was a writer and one of Pakistan's first two female members of Parliament. Begum Ikramullah also served as Ambassador to Morocco and several times a delegate to the United Nations. [http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/981210/1998121020.html Arabic News: Princess Sarvath on the Education of Women in the Muslim World] ] [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Jordan/jordan2.htm Jordan: Al-Hashimi Dynasty - Genealogy] ]

The Princess' paternal uncle, Mohammad Hidayatullah, was Vice-President of India and her maternal uncle, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, was Prime Minister of Pakistan. Some of her other ancestors include members of the Chishti Order, as well as the Iranian Sufi philosopher, Shaikh Shabuddin Yahya Suhrawardy. Many of her male and female forebearers, on both sides of her family, were poets, writers and academics. She lived in all the countries that her parents were posted to, but mostly received her education in Britain, such as at the University of Cambridge. She first met Prince Hassan in London in 1958, when they were both 11 years old. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,989321-2,00.html Time.com: From the Magazine | World - Jordan] ]

Marriage and children

Princess Sarvath married Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, in Karachi on August 28, 1968. They live in one of the oldest houses in Amman and have four children: [http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/prince_hassan.html The Hashemites: Biographical Information] ]

*Princess Rahma (born August 13, 1969)
*Princess Sumaya (born May 14, 1971)
*Princess Badiya (born March 28, 1974)
*Prince Rashid (born May 20, 1979)

Career and controversy

Princess Sarvath served Jordan for over 30 years, as the wife of the Crown Prince. She initiated, sponsored and continues to support many projects and activities in Jordan, mainly in the field of education, in addition to issues pertaining to women and the family, social welfare and health. For example, much of her work focuses on promoting education about various topics (both locally and internationally), assisting disadvantaged women, encouraging community service and helping people with mental and learning disabilities.

According to off-the-record briefings by anonymous palace officials in Amman, a rumour based story was being circulated that Princess Sarvath had drawn up plans for a redecoration of the entire Jordanian Royal Apartment, before King Hussein had even died of cancer. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/276136.stm BBC World: Middle East - Battle of the Wives] ] This allegedly occurring while the King was undergoing chemotherapy in the United States and Prince Hassan was running the country in his place. [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_199902/ai_n8834656 Find Articles: The Spectator - February 13, 1999] ] [http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/jork.htm The New York Times: Late News - January 22, 1999] ] On the contrary, other sources state that the Princess actually gave orders for some state apartments to be spruced up, in preparing to receive a foreign delegation. Furthermore, certain accounts imply that only a kitchen was renovated for the visit of Germany's then President, Roman Herzog, who was traveling with his native cook. [http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/f83/prince-hassan-princess-sarvath-news-picture-thread-part-1-a-5010-7.html#post193335 The Royal Forums: Washington Times Library - April 19, 1999] ]

Some people also believe that the Princess' South Asian roots, may have (partly) been an obstacle in reference to ascending the throne (along with her husband) and becoming Queen. Others hold the viewpoint, that the succession change had to do with completely different reasons. [http://www.pakistanlink.com/sah/02-26-99.html Pakistan Link: Diminutive King Hussein Leaves a Giant Mark] ]

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royal name=Princess Sarvath of Jordan
dipstyle=Her Royal Highness
offstyle=Your Royal Highness
altstyle=Ma'am|