Sad Egyptian Anniversary

It was on this day in 1953 that the Egyptian monarchy was abolished and a republic declared, deposing HM King Fuad II of Egypt and Sudan, the last reigning monarch of the Muhammad Ali dynasty which had ruled Egypt since 1805. The Egyptian Royal Family was good friends to the House of Grimaldi and King Fuad II (who was only an infant at the time he lost his throne) spent much of his time in exile in the Principality of Monaco. His father, King Farouk, had been a good friend of HSH Prince Rainier III and when his Egyptian citizenship was revoked in 1959 the Prince of Monaco extended him Monegasque citizenship and they always had a warm welcome in the Principality. As seen in the photo above, when King Fuad II was all grown up and decided to get married, to Dominique-France Loeb-Picard (a well-educated French woman who converted from Judaism to Islam to marry the King) the ceremony was held in Monaco with TSH Prince Rainier and Princess Grace looking on. Unfortunately, the marriage did not endure but the two royal families have always remained close. Princess Ferial of Egypt accompanied her father King Farouk to the wedding in Monaco of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace and, many years later, the same Egyptian princess returned to Monaco to say farewell to Prince Rainier at his funeral. Particularly today, in light of the trauma of the "Arab Spring" and the continued unrest under the government which replaced the Mubarak dictatorship, it is more obvious than ever than the loss of the Egyptian monarchy was a terrible mistake.

Egypt and Monaco

Everyone is well aware of the turmoil and tumult that is currently gripping Egypt. The North African nation has been suffering under a succession of presidents (military dictators) ever since the overthrow of the Egyptian monarchy in 1953. The Muhammad Ali dynasty had ruled Egypt and the Sudan since 1805, first under the Ottoman Empire, then the British Empire and finally as an independent kingdom. The last official King of Egypt was King Fuad II, but he was only a child and had a nominal reign of only a few days. The last effective King of Egypt was King Farouk and he was actually pretty good friends with the late Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Like many royals he had vacationed in Monaco, which probably lowered his reputation in the eyes of religious fundamentalists but was not uncommon in an era of greater glamor and tolerance than most today would be familiar with in the region.

King Farouk had many enemies among Arab nationalists for his friendship with the British. What was unfair about this was that it was not really true and the British had little love for him because he was seen by them as not friendly enough. However, the British Empire was fading fast and the United States was the new super-power in the western world and the United States (especially the CIA) was convinced that King Farouk had to go! A military coup brought down the King and he suddenly found himself homeless and with few friends. Where did he turn? To the sunny Principality of Monaco of course where Prince Rainier III was good enough to give him a safe haven. When his Egyptian citizenship was revoked and the former King became a 'man without a country' in 1959 Prince Rainier III came to the rescue again and made Farouk a citizen of Monaco. Later the King moved to Rome where he ultimately died in 1965.

Princess Ferial and her father King Farouk of Egypt in Monaco for the wedding of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III

The same Princess Ferial of Egypt (alongside King Juan Carlos of Spain) in Monaco for the funeral of Prince Rainier III