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 When his Egyptian citizenship was revoked and the former King became a 'man without a country' in 1959 Prince Rainier III came to the rescue again and made Farouk a citizen of Monaco.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
Our thoughts and prayers go to the people of Egypt. What an extreme contrast -- on one end is a nation gripped by internal turmoil and alleged corruption and suppression of human rights, and on the other is a minuscule principality currently gripped by the excitement of the pending marriage of its prince. God bless all nations.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Prince Rainier and Princess Grace do the same to the Shah of Iran and his family when they were exiled (welcome them to Monaco)? And to think that they have so little space there!
ReplyDeleteAlso, hats off to Rainier and Grace for raising their children to be socially aware and involved as seen in their charities. Sure, these charities may be brushed off as irrelevant or too small to make a difference, but take note, they can simply just enjoy their wealth and be immune from these global issues in their pink palace on top of a hill.
That's true, they really don't have to help anyone or anything if they didn't want to. In most of the monarchies of Europe, royals reign no longer by the grace of God but by the grace of Parliament and if they become unpopular they are only one vote away from being tossed out. In Monaco this is not the case -there would be no country without the Princely Family, there would be no economy without them and everyone knows it. They could do as much or as little as they please and let public opinion be damned. Yet, they do not, they choose to help the less fortunate and causes they sincerely believe are important such as Caroline and her orphans, Stephanie and her AIDS victims and Prince Albert and his polar bears.
ReplyDeleteThis is when they, I suppose, are grateful that Monaco is half the size of Central Park where the sun always shines and luxury is all year round, and not a vast land where millions are hungry and suffering. Doesn't hurt too when your ruling family has Hollywood good looks.
ReplyDeleteNot hard to root for a ruling family which looks like them anyway! Thanks a bunch for those priceless Kelly DNA!!!
ReplyDeleteJust saw a news clip of the chaos in Egypt. I wonder if this would have happened if the country were still a kingdom ...
The king and the prince look uncannily alike in the pics you posted! From the mustache down to the bemedalled uniform/costume. Great research, smart choice of pics!
ReplyDeleteThe royal family of Egypt are thankful for the former prince .... I wish my grandparents 've left egypt after 1952 coup .... but it's life :(
ReplyDeleteMy family (George Lawrence and his brother Robert) were tailors for the Royal Family of Egypt- the late King Farouk. George Lawrence married Margaret Muir McKeand (both Scottish families) in Alexandria 1901. They were in Alexandria from 1901 until the outbreak of the 2nd world war, and brother Robert Lawrence had apartments in the royal palace. Margaret's sister, Mary Jane McKeand, reputedly also lived briefly in Egypt as a nanny to a rich Egyptian family. Another family story has her as nanny to the future Prince Rainer. I suspect the story has become embellished at some point, but certainly the Lawrences were tailors to the royal family. Any ideas where I could find out more about this intriguing link between Egypt & Moncao?
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