Queen Zein al Sharaf (1916-1994)

[Artemisia]

Originally Posted by elladora

Also why would she dislike Alia because of her heritage? I mean from Muna (and even Noor) I can understand. She was British and correct me if I'm wrong but Jordan had been a colony of Britain right?

Not precisely a colony, it was a mandate. After the break-up of the Ottoman Empire, the map of the Middle East was basically redrawn. This resulted in the British Mandate for Palestine, which included the territory of Transjordan. Transjordan remained British mandate until 1946, when the British government formally recognised its independence. Thereafter, it was known as the Kingdom of Jordan.

Queen Zein was a strong and dominating woman who wouldn't like rivalry from any woman, including her son's wives. I am not an expert on Jordanian royals, however Zein probably disliked Alia's Palestinian heritage because just years before Hussein and Alia got married, there were tensions between Jordanians and a certain groups of Palestinians in Jordan (fedayeens). If you want to learn more, you can read about the events of Black September.

[elladora]

Oww in that way! I sort of already heard of Black September but I didn't think of it. I perhaps thought there was a different reason or something. But isn't it a bit hypocritical seeing Alia was more an Circassian then Palestinian.

As for Sarvath did she got along with her?

[Artemisia]

Originally Posted by elladora

Oww in that way! I sort of already heard of Black September but I didn't think of it. I perhaps thought there was a different reason or something. But isn't it a bit hypocritical seeing Alia was more an Circassian then Palestinian.

As for Sarvath did she got along with her?

As far as I know, Queen Zein actually had cordial relations with Princess Sarvath despite the latter's Pakistani roots. I read somewhere the two women were united in their dislike for Queen Noor. Both Zein and Sarvath wanted Prince Hassan to succeed King Hussein, while Queen Noor was obviously trying to ensure succession for her own son, Prince Hamzah.
Some people believe that King Hussein's decision not to name Hassan as his successor was became of Sarvath's Pakistani roots; the King and his advisers presumably believed that would not be a popular decision

[elladora]

As far as I know, Queen Zein actually had cordial relations with Princess Sarvath despite the latter's Pakistani roots. I read somewhere the two women were united in their dislike for Queen Noor. Both Zein and Sarvath wanted Prince Hassan to succeed King Hussein, while Queen Noor was obviously trying to ensure succession for her own son, Prince Hamzah.
Some people believe that King Hussein's decision not to name Hassan as his successor was became of Sarvath's Pakistani roots; the King and his advisers presumably believed that would not be a popular decision

You would think a Pakistani queen would be more liked then a half British or half American ( in Hamzah's case) king. Weren't Sarvath and Hassan very popular in Jordan?