Queen Alia thread part 1

[queenkat101]

Anyhow, whatever Alia was like personally, I think her true appeal lay - and still lies - in her face. Somehow, whenever I see a picture of her, I get the impression that this is a very "real" woman. I can't explain it but I just don't see it in Noor or Rania. It's not their fault, of course, but don't get the same impression as when I look at Alia. There's something in her eyes, and especially in her smile, that speaks of sadness and longing and acceptance.

I understand what you are getting at.... I think that Alia was a woman that thought with her heart as opposed to her mind.... I think Rania and Noor can detatch themselves emotionally from certain things (criticism, the busy schedule of their husbands, perhaps even being second in importance to their husbands...Jordan being first of course), but I think Alia was vulnerable and thought with her heart.... and I think people can recognize that and appreciate it. She almost reminds me a bit of Princess Diana in that respect....

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

Originally Posted by sommone

Thanks MS for posting this....More and more I am learning things about Alia. I can only imagine her fears for her husband. As far as her extravagance, well wasn't it KH who wanted her to dress a in lavish things...not saying she did or didn't enjoy it. Just reading this article makes me like Alia even more.

Alia Toukan (Queen Alia then) was born rich and was used to the lavish things,so we can't blame her... Al-Toukan are known to be one of the richest Jordanian (from palestinian origins) families,especially her father and now her brother...

[madonna23]

I think Alia's legacy would have been very different had she lived. She really could have gone either way but I suspect that she would have followed Noor and Rania - becoming the modern, jet-setting queen. I guess there is just something about the JRF environment that motivates these women to choose this path.

[sommone]

Originally Posted by T-R-O-U-B-L-E

Alia Toukan (Queen Alia then) was born rich and was used to the lavish things,so we can't blame her... Al-Toukan are known to be one of the richest Jordanian (from palestinian origins) families,especially her father and now her brother...

I think you misunderstood what I was saying. I wasn't blaming Alia for wearing lavish things....I said that wasn't it KH who wanted her to wear those kinds of clothing, at least that is what I read in a post. I'm not criticizing Alia for wanting to wear nice things. As far as knowing Alia's family was wealthy, until you said that, I wasn't aware of it.

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

Originally Posted by sommone

I think you misunderstood what I was saying. I wasn't blaming Alia for wearing lavish things....I said that wasn't it KH who wanted her to wear these type of clothes, at least that is what I read in a post. I'm not criticizing Alia for wanting to wear nice things. As far as knowing Alia's family was wealthy, until you said that, I wasn't aware of it.

lol dun worry i know u weren't criticizing her,and I wasn't defending her
I was just trying to explain thats all.

[maryshawn]

Well, some b/w photos seem to show enough of a resemblance where I could see KH perhaps thinking QN resembled QA........hence, his interest. How's that?

Originally Posted by sommone

You think QN and QA look alike? I don't see it. Don't get me wrong...both women were/are attractive women, but that is where the resemblance begins and ends. I'm curious though...what is it about the two that makes you think they look alike?

[maryshawn]

Who would've thought such a lovely woman was deep down so worried and "insecure" (that's not the correct word but something like that....her letters reveal she did feel great concern about how she was perceived by her fellow Jordanians and her actions in the eyes of her husband). Queen Alia's face does show that vulnerability others have mentioned. There is a sadness, kindness, joie de vivre......all combined. She always put on a good face; I found her talks and letters with Mrs. Trudeau and Sadat interesting as she WAS a woman who was worried, scared, a bit insecure, not totally comfortable with sharing her upsets with her husband so bottling them in till he was away......like many of us. It's the classic lesson. From appearances, some may look like they "have it all" when they are just as human and share the same feelings we all do. Wistful.....many of her photos have that quality. It's endearing. The fact she was so kind and genuinely cared about others was coupled with the fact she felt she was losing support among the Jordanian people. And I read her as being a person who wished to "please" not offend others. Perhaps that's why she flew off into a sandstorm with such tragic consequences to visit a hospital which was not providing proper treatment to a patient. Did she feel, deep down, she had to "prove herself"? I don't think she did have to do such a thing.....which makes her death that much sadder. The more I see her photos and read about her, the greater I feel her loss was for so many.


Odd. As I was writing this, a tape of Princess Diana came on with her saying "Two things stand like stone: Kindness in another's troubles; courage in your own." I think that pretty much sums up Queen Alia.

[Humera]

I think it was natural for Queen Alia to connect with Margaret Trudeau. Margaret She didnt have an easy time being married to the Prime Minister of Canada. They ended up getting divorced, but remained friends until PM Trudeau's death in 2000.
Women married to statesmen and Kings often have to come second. Their husbands have bigger responsibilities ie, the well being of an entire nation. I wonder if Alia's marriage would've lasted had she been alive.

[shelley]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

I guess Queen Alia hoped Prince Ali would be the Crown Prince..

"I know I have produced a Crown Prince and that is something,"

It just goes to show that none of the King's wives, at least not Alia, Muna, and Noor, were so unselfish as to not wish their sons to be the next crown prince. All three had the same ambition in that respect.
Had Queen Alia been alive today, things might have been different.

Many things would surely have been different if Queen Alia had lived, however, this remark also shows us many different perceptions and false premises of the whole succession issue, which seem not to be understood by many people to this day, who continue to cling to the belief that Prince Hassan refused to comply with his brother's wishes.

1) It was commonly assumed that Prince Ali would take precedence over his older brothers in the question of suceeding their father. This was I suppose in part due to what was said and decided in parliament when the King married Princess Muna.

2) Prince Rashid was not born at this time when Queen Alia made this statement, but obviously no one took on board the full implications of the then crown prince possibly having a son.

3) Once that son was born, the whole succession issue would have to be governed by what was laid down in the constitution, whatever anyone's personal preference was.

4) More than anyone, King Hussein should have fully studied and understood the full implication of his decision when he made the amendents to the constitution that allowed Prince Hassan to be named his heir. The late king should have made whatever further amendments that were necessary to ensure that his brother would be followed by one of his own sons rather than his own son. King hussein's failure to address this sensitive but vital issue has led to much bad blood and misunderstandings within the Jordanian Royal family, to their and the whole country's detriment.

[sommone]

I know I'm probably the only one who didn't know this , but I wasn't aware that QA's eyes were green. It's good to have a perspective on QA and some of her inner most feelings concerning her family and her country. I too often wonder what life would be like as well if QA was still alive. Unfortunately, that is a question that can never be answered.

[maryshawn]

I hope it would have; she really seems to have loved him profoundly....but clearly she needed her personal outlets and time, space and privacy--as she mentions re: her dream house in Chelsea and desire for Georgian furniture.....I'd read their home in Amman was bland and stark. Was she not allowed a hand in decorating it? She was there for five years....you'd think if she wanted a certain look, she could have decorated to suit her tastes. Roland Dallas in his excellent book on KH says QA too "suffered from the King's fondness for English nannies....." He was a great man in many ways but it might have been quite complicated to be married to him. Insecurities about other women can be quite devastating to one's self-esteem.....and the worries about assasination, whether people like and accept you, ......perhaps even if--as a wife--one would suddenly go the way of Dina and Muna w/o warning.....But, as you said, we will never know.

I am picking up a streak in KH re: his wives. On the one hand, he never told them what to do in an official capacity; let them figure it out for themselves. On the other, he had strong feelings about their attire, curbed some of their natural impulses (like QN writing a condolence letter to Mrs. Sadat) and was not terribly sympathetic outwardly when QN lost her first baby when it would be natural to mourn with her. And from the articles written by their chief of household, things ran according to his wishes within their homes....perhaps even controlling how the house he and QA shared was decorated. Seems a bit controlling in that regard. And the womanizing......when Larry King said to QN "well, he was a 'dandy,'" she quickly moved the topic along, didn't say he wasn't but said her problems re: the gossip about him others were sharing with her was not about that. Hmmmmm. I think he would've made a better friend than husband all things considered. Any thoughts from others?

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

I think it was natural for Queen Alia to connect with Margaret Trudeau. Margaret She didnt have an easy time being married to the Prime Minister of Canada. They ended up getting divorced, but remained friends until PM Trudeau's death in 2000.
Women married to statesmen and Kings often have to come second. Their husbands have bigger responsibilities ie, the well being of an entire nation. I wonder if Alia's marriage would've lasted had she been alive.

[Blueice]

1. During an intimate moment for King Hussein and Queen Alia of Jordan, the Queen touches her husband's forehead. She would die in a tragic helicopter accident two years later

[tipper]

Originally Posted by sommone

IMO, Ali looks the least like KH. I think Hashem and Hamza looks a great deal like their father.

that's true, Ali and Hayah look just like their mum.

[El Jood]

Originally Posted by sommone

Just reading this article makes me like Alia even more.

Someone you seem to like Alia alot... and her Kids I guess why
I personaly Like Noor...
the best Queen Jordan has ever had......
and Prince Hamza....
Its a Big Loss For Jordan.... he is the best crown prince jordan has ever had
but it seems That Rania Has such a strong personality and wants her son to be the next crown prince....

[sommone]

[quote=El Jood]Someone you seem to like Alia alot... and her Kids I guess why
I like Alia for many reasons. Yes I am very big supporters of her kids...I adore Prince Ali the most. Everything else aside, I have a soft spot for Alia because she seemed to be a very devoted mother, wife, and queen. The fact that she died so young is really tragic, and that tragedy makes me often wonder what would life be like if she had lived. So it isn't just because of PH...if that is what you are thinking.