Princess Firyal of Jordan
| Princess Firyal | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess of Jordan | |||||
| Spouse |
Prince Muhammad bin Talal (m. 1964–div. 1978) | ||||
| Issue |
Prince Talal Prince Ghazi | ||||
| |||||
| Father | H.E. Sayyid Farid al-Irsheid | ||||
| Mother | Farida al-Irsheid | ||||
| Born |
1945 (age 69–70) Jenin | ||||
| Religion | Muslim | ||||
Princess Firyal (born 1945) is a Jordanian princess. Married to Prince Muhammad bin Talal from 1964 to 1978, she is the mother of Prince Talal and Prince Ghazi. Princess Firyal is known as a socialite and philanthropist. She has been a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 1992, for whom she works on programs for protection of world heritage, medical research and children’s education. She is also a member of the International Best Dressed List since 1985.[2]
Biography
Early life and education
Leirjal Firyal Irshaid was born in 1945 in Jenin, the daughter of the late Farid Irshaid, a political leader who served as a Minister in the Government and in the Senate in Jordan. Her mother Farida is Chair of the Red Crescent Society in the Palestinian West Bank of Jordan.[3]
Princess Firyal attended Berzeit College. She studied for two years at the American College for Women in Beirut prior to her marriage; she resumed her studies and earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia University School of General Studies in 1999.[4] Princess Firyal will pursue her Ph.D. in Comparative Religion at Columbia University.[5]
Career
| Jordanian Royal Family |
|---|
 |
Extended royal family
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The Princess was appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1992. Three years later, in 1995, she was appointed Special Advisor to the Director General of UNESCO. She works primarily on programs for protection of world heritage, medical research and children’s education.[6]
In Jordan, Princess Firyal became active in relief work in refugee camps after the wars in the regions. She worked with nomadic Bedouin tribes and farmers to increase literacy, to establish family planning programs, and to encourage local crafts.[7]
Princess Firyal launched the International Hope Foundation as part of UNESCO in 1994. She frequently visits homeless and street children shelters in New York and cities around the world.[8]
The princess's philanthropic positions and credentials include:
- Board of Directors of the United Nations Association in March, 2003
- Board of Trustees of the International Rescue Committee based in New York<
- Dean's Councils of Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government
- International Council at Columbia University
- Board of Trustees of the New York Public Library
- Trustee of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris
- International Council of the Tate in London
- Minister Plenipotentiary by the government of Jordan in May 2007 at the Jordanian Embassy as U.S. Ambassador[9]
Marriage and children
Princess Firyal married Prince Muhammad bin Talal, the younger brother of the late H.M. King Hussein, in 1964; they divorced in 1978. The couple has two sons Prince Talal and Prince Ghazi.
References
- ↑ Royal Ark
- ↑ Vanity Fair
- ↑ "Official biography - HRH Princess Firyal of Jordan". Retrieved 2009-07-12.
- ↑ "Princess Firyal's Class Act". School of General Studies News. June 1999. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
- ↑ http://princessfiryal.org/bio.html
- ↑ "HRH Princess Firyal meets with the Director-General to discuss education issues - Personalidades al servicio de la UNESCO | UNESCO.org". Portal.unesco.org. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
- ↑ "OLogy". Amnh.org. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
- ↑ FIRYAL. "HRH Princess Firyal of Jordan's letter about the International Hope Foundation". Princess Firyal. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
- ↑ "HRH Princess Firyal of Jordan's biography, work and life". Princessfiryal.org. Retrieved 2010-04-29.