Saed News: One day, a guard officer saw the Shah with a small lamb. This white lamb, whose legs were black up to its shins, was well known to everyone in the court. It was a beautiful lamb that Soraya loved, and she would run and pet it on the grass during the day.
According to a report from Saed News Service, citing Khabar Online: On Friday, March 23, 1958, at 9 a.m., the royal court issued an announcement regarding the separation of the Shah and Soraya. The announcement text read as follows: "Due to the supreme interests of the Iranian nation, ensuring the future of the hereditary constitutional monarchy, and avoiding any future unrest or turmoil, it became necessary to act on the matter of determining the crown prince. In a consultation meeting held on February 16, 1958, in the presence of His Majesty, the head of the government, the heads of both houses of the parliament, the royal court minister, and other dignitaries, the topic was raised by His Majesty, and the attendees, considering the country's interests, unanimously expressed the view that the heir to the throne of Iran should be directly from His Majesty Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. This matter was reviewed and confirmed again in a subsequent meeting on March 1, 1958. A representative of His Majesty was sent to inform Her Majesty Queen Soraya Pahlavi, who, in return, expressed her willingness to make any personal sacrifice for the sake of the national interests and the future of the Iranian monarchy. As a result, in the third consultation session on March 10, 1958, His Majesty, with great sorrow and regret, made the decision to separate from Her Majesty Queen Soraya, acknowledging her tireless service and affection toward the Iranian people and her deserving qualities as queen, while agreeing with the advisory committee's decision. Minister of the Royal Court, Hossein Ala." (Information; Saturday, March 24, 1958)
In a detailed report published in Khwandaniha magazine on April 1, 1958, which included information from both domestic and foreign press about the separation, the following points were highlighted:
The separation between the Shah and Queen Soraya, which became definitive in the final week of the previous year, remained the most discussed issue during the Nowruz celebrations and continued to captivate both domestic circles and foreign media.
In his Nowruz message, His Majesty expressed his sorrow over the separation from Queen Soraya, stating that he could not share in the joy of the people. This message created widespread sadness and sorrow among the people, and in all Nowruz visits, the topic of this painful event was frequently discussed.
Foreign press, which had received the latest updates by mail, was filled with stories and images of Queen Soraya and the royal separation. Over ten thousand different photographs of the Shah and former Queen Soraya were published worldwide during these three weeks, with many prominent European and American magazines featuring the latest images of Queen Soraya on their covers.
Queen Soraya was admired not only in Iran but across the world, and the articles about the separation were filled with expressions of sorrow and regret for her. Some foreign reports included speculative stories, but all conveyed a deep respect and sympathy for the noble, selfless, and beautiful former Queen of Iran.
Regarding the crown prince issue, foreign press reported that the Shah was willing to appoint one of his brothers as the heir apparent to avoid separation from Queen Soraya, but this suggestion did not align with the constitution, according to the advisory committee. Other proposals, including the Shah marrying again, were also considered but ultimately dismissed.
In an interview with Daily Sketch, it was reported that Queen Soraya experienced a nervous shock after the final phone call from the Shah, and doctors in Cologne confirmed she had been suffering from this condition, requiring rest and relaxation.
Some foreign reports speculated that the Shah might marry again, with New York Herald Tribune publishing an image of a beautiful Iranian girl named Manijeh Azam Zangeneh, suggesting she was being considered for marriage to the Shah. However, this was never confirmed by official sources.
The Queen’s future life was also discussed in domestic and foreign press. It was reported that she would likely remain single for the rest of her life due to the circumstances of the separation. After the announcement of the divorce, the official images of Queen Soraya were removed from government buildings, but the Soraya Charitable Organization remained intact.
Finally, regarding the dowry and rumors, it was reported that Queen Soraya’s dowry had been 500,000 toman, but a much larger amount would be sent to her by the Shah as a gesture of respect. Additionally, Queen Soraya did not take any of her wedding gifts or jewelry with her when she traveled to Germany, but they were later sent to her.
Foreign press also speculated about potential future offers for the former Queen, including a 6 million-dollar film contract from Hollywood, but these rumors were never confirmed, and it was said that Queen Soraya had rejected such offers. Similarly, Life magazine reportedly offered one million dollars for her memoirs, but again, this offer was not accepted.
The subject of the Shah's future marriage was also widely discussed, with speculation continuing about who his next queen might be. However, as stated by the royal spokesperson, the Shah was not planning to marry immediately, especially considering the emotional toll of the recent events.
