Prince Muhammad bin Talal

Prince Muhammad bin Talal
Prince Muhammad of Jordan
Born	2 October 1940 Amman, Jordan
Spouse	Firyal Irshaid (m. 1964, div. 1978) Taghrid Majali (m. 1981)
Issue	Prince Talal Prince Ghazi
House	Hashemite
Father	Talal of Jordan
Mother	Zein al Sharaf Talal
Religion	Islam

Prince Muhammad bin Talal of Jordan (born 2 October 1940) is the second son of King Talal of Jordan and is the younger brother of King Hussein of Jordan.^[1]

Education

Prince Muhammad completed his primary schooling at the Islamic Scientific College in Amman and then attended the Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil in Switzerland. He then went to Bryanston College in the United Kingdom where he finished his secondary education. Between 1956 and 1957 he attended the Military Academy in Baghdad.^[2] In 1960 he earned his private pilot’s license.

Career

Upon his return to Jordan in 1958, Prince Muhammad joined the Jordan Arab Army and served in the first Royal Guard Regiment before becoming Aide de Camp to King Hussein. Prince Muhammad was made Crown Prince of Jordan in 1952 when his elder brother Crown Prince Hussein became king.^[3] He held the post until 1962.^[3][2]

In 1971 he was appointed head of the council of tribal chiefs by King Hussein. In 1973, a royal decree invested him as the personal representative of King Hussein.^[4][2] He then headed the supreme committee for tourism in Jordan. He also served as regent and as head of the regency council on numerous occasions in the absence of the King. He holds the honorary rank of full general in the Jordanian Armed Forces as well as many high decorations from Jordan and other countries.^[2]

Jordanian Royal Family
HM The King HM The Queen HRH The Crown Prince HRH Princess Iman HRH Princess Salma HRH Prince Hashem HM Queen Noor Extended royal family

Honours

National Honours

• Grand Cordon of the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali w/ Collar of Jordan
• Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (special class) of Jordan
• Grand Cordon of the Order of Independence (Jordan)
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Star of Jordan
• Long Service Medal
• Good Conduct Medal
• King Hussein Silver Jubilee Medal-1977
• 1967–1971 Service Medal-1971
• Honorary President of the Royal Jordanian Chess Federation
• Honorary President of the Jordanian Shooting Federation
• Honorary President of the British Federation of Kyokushinkai Karate holding a first Dan and honorary fifth Dan in that martial art.

Foreign Honours

•  Denmark : Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog
•  Ethiopian Empire : Grand Cross of the Order of the Queen of Sheba
•  France : Grand Cross of the Order of National Merit
•  Italy : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic - 26/11/1983 ^[5]
•  Japan : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun - 1978
•  Malaysia : Honorary Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm - 24/4/1965^[6]
•  Morocco : Grand Cordon of the Order of Muhammad
•  Saudi Arabia : Order of Abdulaziz al Saud
•  Taiwan : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Brilliant Star of Taiwan
•  United Kingdom : Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) - 1984

Personal life

Prince Muhammad first married Firyal Irshaid in 1964. They had two sons: Prince Talal (born 26 July 1965) and Prince Ghazi (born 15 October 1966). Their marriage ended in divorce. He later married Taghrid Majali, daughter of the late Hazza' al-Majali, Prime Minister of Jordan, on 28 June 1981.^[2] Prince Muhammad and Princess Taghrid along with Taghrid's mother, Samiha Al Fayez, reside now in Al Manal Palace. He also practices and promotes various sports including karate, chess, shooting and hunting.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Prince Muhammad bin Talal

16. Ali Bey, Sharif of Mecca (= 20,24)               8. Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca                       17. Shaikha Salha bint Gharam al-Shahar               4. Abdullah I of Jordan                             18. Abdullah Kamil Pasha, Grand Sharif of Mecca               9. Abdiya bint Abdullah                       19. Bazmi Jahan               2. Talal of Jordan                                   20. Ali Bey, Sharif of Mecca (= 16,24)               10. Amir Nasser bin Ali Pasha, Sharif of Mecca                       5. Musbah bint Nasser                             11. Dilber Khanum                       1. Prince Muhammad of Jordan                                         24. Ali Bey, Sharif of Mecca (= 16,20)               12. Amir Nasser bin Ali Pasha, Sharif of Mecca (= 10)                       6. Jamal 'Ali bin Nasser, Sharif of Mecca, Governor of Hauran                             13. Dilber Khanum (= 11)                       3. Zein al-Sharaf                                   14. Shakir Pasha, Governor of Cyprus                       7. Wijdan Khanum

References

1. "Lionel Pincus's Sons Take Their Father's Princess to Court". Vanity Fair. 6 August 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
2. "Prince Mohammad turns 73". The Jordan Times. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
3. Shahin, Mariam (1 September 1998). "The man who would be king". The Middle East. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
4. "The Royal Court Offices". King Hussein I. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
5. Quirinal
6. "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1965." (PDF).