King Hussein (1935-1999)

His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan died on February 7, 1999, at the King Hussein Medical Centre in Amman, Jordan at the age of 63 from complications related to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This was the king’s second bout with cancer, having survived kidney cancer in 1992. King Hussein played a pivotal role in the Middle East peace process and his death cast a great shadow on the quest for peace.

King Hussein was the son of King Talal bin Abdullah and Princess Zein al-Sharaf bint Jamil. King Talal became king in 1951 after the assassination of his father, King Abdullah II. However, King Talal was forced to abdicate due to health problems on August 11, 1952. Upon the abdication, King Talal’s sixteen-year-old son Hussein became king.

King Hussein was married four times and had twelve children.

1) Married Egyptian-born Sharifa Dina bint Abdu’l-Hamid on April 18, 1955; styled HM Queen Dina; divorced in 1957

Children:

• HRH Princess Alia bint Al Hussein born February 13, 1956

2) Married British-born Antoinette Avril Gardiner on May 25, 1961; styled HRH Princess Muna al-Hussein; divorced on December 21, 1971

Children:

• HM King Abdullah II born January 30, 1962
• HRH Prince Faisal bin al-Hussein born October 11, 1963
• HRH Princess Aisha bint Hussein born April 23, 1968
• HRH Princess Zein bint Hussein born April 23, 1968

3) Married Egyptian-born Alia Baha el-Din Toukan on December 24, 1972; styled HM Queen Alia al-Hussein; Queen Alia died helicopter crash in Amman, Jordan on February 9, 1977

Children:

• HRH Princess Haya bint Hussein born May 3, 1974
• HRH Prince Ali bin Hussein of Jordan born December 23, 1975)
• Abir Muhaisen born 1973, adopted in 1976 after her mother was killed by a plane crash at their Palestinian refugee camp in Amman, Jordan

4) Married American-born Lisa Najeeb Halaby on June 15, 1978; styled Queen Noor al Hussein

Children:

• HRH Prince Hamzah bin al Hussein born March 29, 1980
• HRH Prince Hashim bin al Hussein born June 10, 1981
• HRH Princess Iman bint Hussein born April 24, 1983
• HRH Princess Raiyah bint Hussein born February 9, 1986

On February 8, 1999, King Hussein’s body left his home, the Bab es Salaam Palace (Door of Peace Palace), for the last time for a procession through the streets of Jordan to Raghadan Palace. It is estimated that 800,000 Jordanians stood along the procession route. The king’s casket was received at Raghadan Palace by the new king and the princes of the Hashemite Dynasty. Also at the palace was a large group of world leaders who had come to honor King Hussein’s memory. (See link below.) There was a service at a mosque on the palace grounds attended only by those of the Muslim faith. At the cemetery, King Hussein’s body in a white shroud was laid in the grave by his sons as Queen Noor watched from the cemetery’s gates.

 

Links:

• BBC: Middle East King Hussein dies
  
• BBC: King Hussein’s funeral in pictures
• A Living Tribute to the Legacy of King Hussein I – Official Royal Jordanian memorial website

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