Princess Sarvath al-Hassan has served as a Jordanian royal for over fifty years. We often get glimpses of this glamorous women at official events, so let’s learn a bit more about her. It’s one of the Pocket Profiles that makes me feel that I should get cracking if I want to make anything of my own life!
She was born Sarvath Ikramullah in July 1947 in what was then known as Calcutta. She was from a prominent Muslim family. Her father, Mohammed Ikramullah, was a senior civil servant and later one of Pakistan’s first Secretary of State. Her mother, Shaista Suhrawardy, was a writer, who eventually served as one of the first female members of Pakistan’s parliament. Her family were posted in many countries, and Sarvanth became fluent in Arabic, Urdu, English and French. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Cambridge.
She met her future husband in London when she was only eleven. His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal was a younger brother of the prince would one day be King Hussein of Jordan. They married in 1968 in Karachi. Prince Hassan was the Crown Prince for many years, although becoming King was not to be his fate. He and Sarvath have instead spent their lives supporting the Jordanian royal family in an ancillary role. You can read more about the Jordanian succession here.
The Princess has spent the fifty-plus years of her marriage working for various causes in her adopted country, primarily in the areas of education, family, and medicine. The Princess Sarvath Community College was established in 1980, and in 1981 Sarvath also founded the Amman Baccalaureate School. However, you might know her best as the royal you glimpse at royal events. While rarely the main attraction, she represents the Jordanians frequently, often wearing clothes reflecting the country of her birth.
She’s shown below at King Carl Gustaf’s sixtieth birthday party in 20016.
She was escorted by a baby-faced Prince Willem-Alexander at the wedding of Princess Alexandra of Denmark.
Here she is wearing one of her two (known) tiaras, the floral headpiece, at the evening celebration of King Carl Gustaf’s 60th birthday.
She also has a tiara of geometric design, known only as her diamond tiara, which she wore to Crown Princess Victoria’s wedding.
Sarvath has enjoyed a long friendship with the British royal family, which revolved around a shared loved of horses and racing.
Most recently, the Princess was spotted at the Committal Service for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Princess Sarvath and her husband currently reside in Amman. They have four children and nine grandchildren.