Princess Muna al-Hussein
| Princess Muna al-Hussein | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Muna of Jordan | |||||
 | |||||
| Princess consort of Jordan | |||||
| Tenure | 25 May 1961 – 21 December 1971 | ||||
| Spouse | Hussein of Jordan | ||||
| Issue |
Abdullah II of Jordan Prince Feisal Princess Aisha Princess Zein | ||||
| |||||
| House | Hashemite | ||||
| Father | Walter Percy Gardiner | ||||
| Mother | Doris Elizabeth Sutton | ||||
| Born |
25 April 1941 Chelmondiston, East Suffolk, United Kingdom | ||||
| 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 1971, she was the second wife of Hussein, the late king of Jordan. She is British by birth but in keeping with Islamic culture, she was renamed Muna al-Hussein upon her marriage.
Early life
Toni Gardiner was born in Chelmondiston, East Suffolk, England, 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 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 was given the title Her Royal Highness Princess Muna al-Hussein on the birth of her first son on 30 January 1962. 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 1971. 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]
Positions and titles
- Honour Chief of Nursing College in Mutah University, Al Karak, Jordan.
- Honorary President of the Jordan Photographic Society.
- Honorary doctoral degree from the University of Grigore T. Popa, Romania.[6]
Honours
-
Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali (Kingdom of Jordan).[7] -
Dame Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance [special class] (Kingdom of Jordan, 25 May 1961).[7] -
Commemorative Medal of the 2500th Anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire (Empire of Iran, 14 October 1971).[8]
References
- ↑ http://hamgallery.com/Tribute/JY2/jy2.pdf
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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
- ↑ "Princess Muna College".
- ↑ "Princess Muna patronizes Jordanian-Romanian medicine and pharmacy conference". Ammon News.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Royal Ark
- ↑ Badraie
External links
| Royal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dina bint 'Abdu'l-Hamid as queen consort |
Princess consort of Jordan 25 May 1961 – 21 December 1971 |
Succeeded by Alia al-Hussein as queen consort |