Queen Noor's Future

[maryshawn]

I re-read parts of her book this weekend and it said quite distinctly the big home called Buckhurst Park in England was "a gift from friends." Isn't that the one she sold? We all know she sold the home on the Potomac......so that leaves her with a rented home in the US, nothing in England (although they did have a house in London for awhile but I thought it was sold), Baab al Salaam in Amman. I still can't get an answer from anyone if their home in Aquaba, which she loved, became the King's automatically....if anyone knows, please write. I read her tiaras and some royal jewels remain the possession of the JRF.. She just seems to be living a restless life right now. Queen but with non of the perks. She admitted herself that the planes, the autos, and other things are not their's but exist to better serve the people......Once the book tour is over, then what does a woman in her early 50s and still quite lovely do? She can't remarry; who can compete with a King and she said "her children would strongly disapprove of even dating." She has a role with landmines and some cancer events but, with her children grown, it seems like she's looking down a long, lonely road.

Any thoughts or has she made any announcements of her plans?

[lizfromVA]

I think that Noor herself was the one who said she would never again date. But if it was the children who don't want her to, then they need to get over themselves and stop minding her business. It would seem like they would rather her be old and lonely rather than old and happy. How selfish. I do wish her luck in whatever she chooses to pursue. She's a woman who could really make a positive difference in the world.

[Bubbette]

I *highly* doubt that her children don't want her to remarry. She certainly could, but what's the upside? I am sure she has a boyfriend already.

[Jackswife]

I would imagine at some future point that Noor *will* remarry. She's still comparitively young, and the idea of her being alone for another 30 years or more, seems pretty tragic. If her children do disapprove that strongly, I think that shows a lot of selfishness on their parts. I'm sure she's smart enough to realize she won't find "another" Hussein, but still..if she wanted to find someone. I'm all for it.

[Alisa]

Queen Noor herself has indicated that she would never remarry. She once said something like " how can I settle for someone else when i've already had the best".

[madonna23]

she may not remarry but she certainly is dating someone - James Kimsey....i don't know what he does but he is on several boards with her.

they're seen together often but refuse to take pictures together because QN is afraid people in jordan will get the wrong idea...but i've read several articles which report she is seriously seeing him and has been for a long time...

[Bubbette]

Here's a little about him--I think he compares favorably with the King:
http://www.kimseyfoundation.org/jameskimsey.htm

James V. Kimsey is a lifelong Washingtonian, born in the District of Columbia and raised in nearby Arlington, Virginia. He attended St. John’s College High School, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and studied at Georgetown University on an honors scholarship.

Kimsey is most widely known as the Founding CEO of America Online, Inc. (AOL). He transformed what began as Quantum Computer Services in 1985 into the nation’s leading independent provider of interactive online services to consumers, and the largest company ever started in Washington.

In 1996 he became AOL Chairman Emeritus and turned his energies to new challenges in business, philanthropy and personal diplomacy through the creation of the Kimsey Foundation ( www.kimseyfoundation.org ). While the foundation provides grants that benefit the community in areas from the arts to education, its overarching mission is to level the playing field for Washington's disadvantaged youth through education and technology.

Over the past 25 years, Jim has founded and served on the boards of a number of successful businesses, in a variety of disciplines, in the Washington , D.C. area. In 1994, he was named Business Leader of the Year by Washingtonian magazine. In 1998, he received KPMG Peat Marwick's High Tech Entrepreneur Award, the American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award, and the first annual I Have A Dream award from the "I Have A Dream"' Foundation. In 1999 Jim received the Horatio Alger Award and a place in the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. In May of 2003, Jim received the first Kellogg Award for Distinguished Leadership from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University . He currently holds Presidential appointments to the West Point Board of Visitors and the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees.

Jim is also deeply engaged in international affairs. Jim has accompanied former President Clinton to Vietnam and in his position as Chairman of the Board of Refugees International he has visited Bosnia , Timbuktu and Cambodia to assess refugee repatriation, land mine removal and the other human rights concerns. In 2001 Jim was named Chairman of the International Commission of Missing Persons (ICMP) in Bosnia , by Secretary of State Colin Powell. The ICMP is an organization dedicated to identifying the more than 40,000 missing from the conflicts in the regions of the former Yugoslavia , through DNA research. Furthermore, Jim readily loaned ICMP DNA experts and analysts to help in the recovery process of those who perished in the Attack on America on September 11 th , 2001 . He most recently traveled to Iraq to assess the humanitarian situation left in the wake of Saddam Hussein's exile.

Jim served three combat tours as an airborne ranger, two in Vietnam , earning various awards for service and valor. Jim also built and staffed an orphanage in Vietnam after the completion of his first tour. He would continue to support that orphanage for three decades.

He is a member of the board of directors of several companies, including Capital One Financial Corporation and Thayer Capital. He also contributes his leadership to numerous civic and charitable organizations. He is Chairman of the Washington Opera, on the Executive Committee of the National Symphony and on the board of Georgetown University .

Jim has three grown sons, Mike, Mark and Ray. Currently, Jim resides in Mclean , Virginia .

[madonna23]

yes he is accomplished...i knew he had something to do with AOL...

[pepep]

I think Queen Noor is entitle to happiness and can date whomever she wants.

[maryshawn]

Originally posted by Bubbette@Jul 7th, 2004 - 3:09 pm
I *highly* doubt that her children don't want her to remarry. She certainly could, but what's the upside? I am sure she has a boyfriend already.

It was a direct quote from Noor in an article in People this spring......"No, I'm not dating; for one thing my children wouldn't approve of it."

[Julian]

I think she will watch and see how things go with her eldest son and his role as Crown Prince. Perhaps if Hamzah and his new wife become sufficiently popular and respected over time then Queen Noor might, if she met the right person, feel free to consider marriage. So many small things are used against her already I just don't think she'd make a major move at this point. She might feel perfectly satisfied with her existing relationship as it is without taking it to marriage.

[Bubbette]

It was a direct quote from Noor in an article in People this spring......"No, I'm not dating; for one thing my children wouldn't approve of it."

Oh, I don't doubt that she *said* that; I just don't believe it's true. I mean how many children really don't want their parents to be happy, and how many adults would listen to their children in this type of situation?

[Julian]

Why would she bother saying it if she didn't mean it? It doesn't advance or serve her or her children in any way. I think she's being frank. It may also be true that they don't even like the man or know of things in his background that we don't.

As to children wanting their parents to be "happy", they are not children anymore. I also think that generalization about wanting parents to be happy is so flawed. Many people could care less who is happy beyong their own selves, and many people also in the public eye have other considerations beyond happiness. Happiness is an elusive luxury that not even the wealthy and powerful can always afford.

[Bubbette]

Of course it helps her! Her son is Crown Prince--do you think it would go over well if his mother married anyone, let alone a non-Jordanian?!

[papillon]

Oh, I don't doubt that she *said* that; I just don't believe it's true.

Agree with you, Bubbette. QN was already dating the much younger founder of MicroStrategy the year after KH's death. He went around bragging about it, and she soon dumped him. But she's long been linked with Jim Kimsey, and attends social functions with him, travels with him, hangs out with him with her birth family. She has to deny the pairing, even though they are often seen in each other's company, because it's an untenable position for her where people from the Middle East are concerned. She is trying to be discrete, which is probably wise of her.

[papillon]

Originally posted by maryshawn@Jul 4th, 2004 - 5:53 pm
I still can't get an answer from anyone if their home in Aquaba, which she loved, became the King's automatically....if anyone knows, please write.

Any thoughts or has she made any announcements of her plans?

Don't know about the house in Aqaba, but doesn't she still have a home in Kensington and also a home in Jackson, WY with her sister, Alexa?

Also, a few months ago now, there appeared a widely reprinted article from the "Washington Post" in which QN said she was in discussions with Kofi Annan to find a role for herself in the United Nations, albeit one in which she could act not in her capacity as Queen of Jordan, but as a person who is bicultural and who has something to offer the world in terms of bridging cultural differences between East and West. I've heard nothing further, but it seemed to me at the time that maybe Kofi Annan was just hearing her out, but couldn't really find something credible for her to do as simply Noor, human being (as opposed to QN, widow of a Middle Eastern head of state). As long as she's got that title, even if it is without much power, it would be pretty difficult for him to offer her a job and expect people to see her as someone without a pro-Jordanian agenda. But, it seems obvious to me, she's a woman searching for a purposeful role in life. At the moment, she seems more socialite than heavy hitter on the world stage. It's quite a come down for her.

[Genevieve]

Originally posted by QueenB@Jul 13th, 2004 - 6:58 pm
If she were to remarry - wouldn't that give Abdullah premise to strip her of her Queen title?

Is her proper title now Queen Dowager or something to that effect that would symbolize that she is a widow Queen? I think this is the case in Belgium with Fabiola and also Ingrid of Denmark and Elizabeth I of Great Britain.

Do you think that stripping Noor of her title would make any or much difference? I personally don't. I think for all intents and purposes, Noor's title of Queen is merely a courtesy title at this point. Either by choice or by private decree by Adbullah and Rania, Noor does not spend much time in Jordan, where being Queen of Jordan really matters. With the exception of her book and the subsequent book tour, Queen Noor does not seem to be "cashing in" on her former role otherwise whether through speeches (extensive and lucrative speeches such as former President Bill Clinton who has been reported to earn as much as $1 million per speech), fashion or jewellery designs under her label, perfume, or however else it is that celebrities are using their name to make them richer.

Also, I think that if Abudllah were to strip Noor of her Queen status and title, it would show the world how petty he really is. Anybody who would give the royal family money or bolster the prestige is well aware that Rania is Queen, not Noor. I don't think that that is ever confused in Jordan at present (not to my understanding of how Rania conducts herself anyway in how she flaunts her status). But as Abdullah and Rania both seem to be power hungry and seem to actively be diminishing Noor's role and presence in Jordan, I wouldn't put it past him to do this should she re-marry or do something else in her own life that might jeopardize his own status or affect the reputation of the Jordanian royal family.

Another question: What is the likelihood that Noor might marry does everyone think?

I personally don't believe that she will ever re-marry. I saw an interview with her once before King Hussein died, and then again after his death, in which she said that she could not imagine marrying anyone else when she had already had the best. But seeing as the Queen is still fairly young, I could see her having a male companion who might accompany her to some events or keep her company but not be recognized in any official capacity.

[papillon]

Originally posted by Genevieve@Jul 13th, 2004 - 6:13 pm
With the exception of her book and the subsequent book tour, Queen Noor does not seem to be "cashing in" on her former role otherwise whether through speeches (extensive and lucrative speeches such as former President Bill Clinton who has been reported to earn as much as $1 million per speech), fashion or jewellery designs under her label, perfume, or however else it is that celebrities are using their name to make them richer.

But she donated the proceeds from her book to the King Hussein Foundation, so she didn't really even cash in on that. She is, however, on the roster of a speakers' bureau that markets people to give paid speeches. Her rate is US$50,000+ per speech--I read somewhere else that it is US$60,000--though I think she still gives quite a few speeches without charging, just because they are to audiences that support her causes.

http://www.nationwidespeakers.com/sp...een_noor.html#

[Alisa]

I think this is the case in Belgium with Fabiola and also Ingrid of Denmark and Elizabeth I of Great Britain.

This isn't the case in Belgium, while Queen Fabiola is a dowager it isn't a part of her title. :flower:

[Genevieve]

Originally posted by papillon@Jul 13th, 2004 - 8:14 pm
But she donated the proceeds from her book to the King Hussein Foundation, so she didn't really even cash in on that. She is, however, on the roster of a speakers' bureau that markets people to give paid speeches. Her rate is US$50,000+ per speech--I read somewhere else that it is US$60,000--though I think she still gives quite a few speeches without charging, just because they are to audiences that support her causes.

http://www.nationwidespeakers.com/sp...een_noor.html#

I wasn't aware of this information papillon; thanks for sharing it. While it seems then that Noor does earn some money from speeches and the like, she isn't earning a lot as she is not getting paid what Bill Clinton is, and in some cases she even waves her fee.

At any rate, she isn't cashing in on her role I don't think.

Another question: Does anyone think that Queen Noor might not care much for her title, and should Abdullah decide to strip her of her Queen-ly title, it wouldn't matter too much to her?