Princess Muna al-Hussein
| Princess Muna al-Hussein | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Muna of Jordan | |||||
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Princess Muna with sons Feisal and Abdullah (right) in 1964 | |||||
| Princess consort of Jordan | |||||
| Tenure | 25 May 1961 – 21 December 1972 | ||||
| Born |
25 April 1941 Chelmondiston, England, United Kingdom | ||||
| Spouse |
Hussein of Jordan (m. 1961; div. 1972) | ||||
| Issue |
Abdullah II of Jordan Prince Feisal Princess Aisha Princess Zein | ||||
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| House | Hashemite | ||||
| Father | Walter Percy Gardiner | ||||
| Mother | Doris Elizabeth Sutton | ||||
| Jordanian Royal Family |
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Extended royal family
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Princess Muna al-Hussein (born Antoinette Avril Gardiner;[1] 25 April 1941) is the mother of King Abdullah II of Jordan. Until their divorce on 21 December 1972, she was the second wife of Hussein, the late king of Jordan. She as born in the United Kingdom, is ethnically English and British by citizenship but in keeping with Islamic culture, she was renamed Muna al-Hussein upon her marriage.
Early life
Toni Gardiner was born in Chelmondiston, the daughter of Doris Elizabeth (Sutton) and Walter Percy Gardiner. She attended Bourne School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was administered by the British Families Education Service for the children of British Service personnel stationed overseas. The school closed when British Forces withdrew from Malaya.
Gardiner's father was a high-ranking British Army Officer stationed at Long Marston in Warwickshire in the 1960s.[2]
Marriage and children
Gardiner met the King of Jordan, Hussein, while working as a secretarial assistant on the film set of Lawrence of Arabia. The King had allowed his troops to work as extras on this film and would occasionally visit to monitor the production's progress. However, there is another report, stating that Gardiner and the King met when her father began to work as a Military Adviser in Jordan.[2]
Gardiner married King Hussein in Amman, Jordan, on 25 May 1961. She converted to Islam and was renamed Muna al-Hussein upon marriage;[3] she kept the title Her Royal Highness Princess Muna al-Hussein after the divorce. Together they had four children:
- Abdullah (born 1962; now King Abdullah II of Jordan).
- Feisal (born 1963).
- Aisha (born 1968, twin of Princess Zein).
- Zein (born 1968, twin of Princess Aisha).
They were divorced on 21 December 1972. After her divorce, she was allowed to keep the style of Royal Highness and the title of Princess of Jordan. She continues to work and live in Jordan.
Causes and activities
She is involved in the development of nursing in Jordan, founding the Princess Muna Scholarship Fund for Nursing.[4] In 1962, Princess Muna founded the Princess Muna College of Nursing, now the Princess Muna College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.[5]
Titles, styles, honours, positions and awards
- 25 April 1941 – 25 May 1961: Miss Antoinette Avril Gardiner
- 25 May 1961 – 21 December 1972: Her Royal Highness The Princess Consort of Jordan
- 21 December 1972 – 7 February 1999: Her Royal Highness Princess Muna al-Hussein of Jordan
- Unofficial: 7 February 1999 - present: Her Royal Highness The Princess Mother of Jordan
Honours
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Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali (Kingdom of Jordan).[6] -
Dame Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance [special class] (Kingdom of Jordan, 25 May 1961).[6] -
Commemorative Medal of the 2500th Anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire (Empire of Iran, 14 October 1971).[7]
Positions and titles
- Honour Chief of Nursing College in Mutah University, Al Karak, Jordan.
- Honorary President of the Jordan Photographic Society.
-
Romania: Honorary Degree of the Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy[8] - Romania: Honorary Degree of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Târgu Mureș[9]
References
- ↑ Princess Muna al-Hussein. hamgallery.com
- 1 2 Ewing, Richard (5 February 1999). "Prince's secretary mum who married a king". Coventy Evening Telegraph. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
- ↑ The Jordanian constitution requires that any heir to the throne be born of a legitimate couple, and both parents should be Muslims. Chapter VI Part I, Article 28th of The Jordanian Constitution
- ↑ Princess Muna Scholarship Fund for Nursing. Kafd.jo. Retrieved on 28 July 2015.
- ↑ "Princess Muna College". jrms.gov.jo.
- 1 2 Al-Hashimi Dynasty. Royal Ark. Retrieved on 28 July 2015.
- ↑ Badraie. Badraie. Retrieved on 28 July 2015.
- ↑ Princess Muna patronizes Jordanian-Romanian medicine and pharmacy conference | Jordan News | Ammon News. En.ammonnews.net (19 June 2013). Retrieved on 2015-07-28.
- ↑ Vizita Principesei Muna a Iordaniei în România | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania. Romaniaregala.ro (24 May 2015). Retrieved on 2015-07-28.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Princess Muna. |
| Royal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dina bint 'Abdu'l-Hamid as queen consort |
Princess consort of Jordan 25 May 1961 – 21 December 1972 |
Succeeded by Alia al-Hussein as queen consort |