SAEDNEWS: Fawzia, the first Egyptian wife of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, requested a divorce after several years of marriage and returned to Egypt. Explore images of her and her second husband, from youth to old age.
According to the Saed News Society Service, Fawzia married Mohammad Reza on March 15, 1939 (24 Esfand 1317 in the Iranian calendar), during his tenure as crown prince—a date that also marked Reza Shah’s birthday. The wedding took place in Cairo, and after their honeymoon, the ceremony was repeated in Tehran. The union produced a daughter, Shahnaz, born in 1940 (1319).
Queen Fawzia left Iran in June 1945 (Khordad 1324) and that same year informed the royal court of her intention to seek a divorce. Mohammad Reza Shah made every effort to bring her back to Iran. After three and a half years of unsuccessful attempts, the divorce was formally registered in both Iran and Egypt in November 1948 (Aban 1327).
On March 28, 1949, Fawzia married Colonel Ismail Hossam Shirinbek, Egypt’s former Minister of Defense and Navy commander, and a relative of hers, in Cairo. The marriage produced two children, Nadia and Hussein. Following Egypt’s anti-monarchy coup in 1952, Fawzia was stripped of her princess title and her wealth was seized, though the public continued to address her respectfully as Princess Fawzia. She chose to remain in her homeland, living in Alexandria with her husband.
Fawzia never gave interviews about her time as queen, nor did she publish her memoirs. She passed away in Alexandria on July 2, 2013.
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