Not a single rose in the morning … Yet she was used to receiving about sixty every day. The white ones. It was a tradition that the Shah had instituted the day after their marriage, but which seemed to have vanished along with their love. Here she is, repudiated, this princess who had made an entire nation dream. From one day to the next, without any trial.
The story between Soraya e Mohammad Reza Pahlavi it had started well. She was only eighteen when she was introduced to the 31-year-old Shah of Iran, who had just canceled her first marriage to Faouzia Fouad, the sister of the king of Egypt, who had never gotten used to the court in Tehran. Despite the age difference, love at first sight was mutual. The Shah saw in the daughter of this ambassador, educated in the best schools in Switzerland, Germany and England, an ideal second wife.
He gave her a huge 22.37 carat diamond, to quickly conclude the engagement. The wedding was organized in February 1951, when the country was suffering from famine and was in the grip of left-wing nationalists who dreamed of abolishing the empire. The motto of the wedding was therefore clear: no ostentation of wealth or big parties. Yet the ceremony was anything but modest: 2,000 people were invited, two tons of orchids, tulips and carnations were imported from the Netherlands, a circus of horses specially came from Rome, and the bride was dressed as a Mr. Dior in person, who gave her a dress embroidered with 20,000 feathers and 10,000 diamonds.
While the imperial couple had instructed the guests to give gifts to the poor as wedding presents, Stalin he couldn’t resist giving the beautiful Soraya a mink coat and a diamond-encrusted desk, while the King George VI he came with his arms full of Georgian candlesticks. Whoever saw the ceremony swore that between Soraya and the Shah there was more than a state wedding: it was a true love. With all the other achievements, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi had never been so passionate.
Water skiing in Miami
Soraya had to deal with the moods of her mother-in-law, the empress Taj ol-Molouk, who saw her as a profligate Westerner. The Shah’s Sister, Ashraf ol-Mulk Pahlavi, she was no longer tender with her sister-in-law, whom she considered a rival in the hearts of her subjects. There is also Ernest Perron, the shah’s best friend and private secretary, who humiliates her privately and in public whenever he can. Between him and Soraya, the conflict is very close. Fortunately, the young queen can count on the support of her many friends – Aristotle Onassis, Antenor Patino, Stavros Niarkos, Dubonnet, Thyssen – whom he meets regularly for holidays in Switzerland in winter, in Saint-Tropez in summer and for weekends in Paris. Soraya is also adored by an entire country, which sees her as an icon of beauty. She also seduces abroad, especially in Hollywood, where during an American trip, she appears in a bikini while water skiing.
But the years passed and Soraya has no children. The Shah eagerly awaits an heir, even if he did not have one with his first marriage. To remedy her infertility, the empress consults all the specialists in the four corners of the globe, reaching as far as Tibet to undergo some spells. But nothing happens and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi is in despair: even though he deeply loves his wife, he cannot accept not having children. Some of his relatives advise him to abdicate, such as Edward VIII who gave up everything for Wallis Simpson. Others tell him to take a second fertile wife in the palace, which is allowed under Qur’anic law. Soraya cannot even consider the latter hypothesis. Thus, on March 14, 1958, an official statement came out: “His Imperial Majesty Mohamed Reza Shah, without considering his personal feelings and with the utmost sadness, decided, during the Council of the Crown and in agreement with the Empress, to dissolve his marriage in the interest of the country “.
During the night, Soraya’s little world collapses. The former queen consort goes into exile.
The wandering princess
A new life begins for her, that of a “wandering princess” as defined by Paris Match at the time. In a Geneva bank, he put away the crown jewels he would no longer wear, then traveled, settling for a time in New York, the West Indies and then Bermuda. These were veritable earthly paradises, but they did nothing to lift the spirit of the woman who was thereafter dubbed the ‘sad-eyed princess’. Months after the divorce, the Shah confesses that he is still in love with her, but their story will not be reborn. As a last farewell gift, he offered her an apartment on Avenue Montaigne in Paris, her favorite city. It was in the beautiful neighborhoods of the capital that Soraya died prematurely at the age of 69. Doctors assured her that her death was natural, but no one doubted that she had succumbed to her pain.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
