The tragedy of the Queen of Iran: why Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari sacrificed family happiness to state interests
The tragedy of the Queen of Iran: why Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari sacrificed family happiness to state interests

Video: The tragedy of the Queen of Iran: why Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari sacrificed family happiness to state interests

Video: The tragedy of the Queen of Iran: why Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari sacrificed family happiness to state interests
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Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari and Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Photo: pinterest.com
Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari and Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Photo: pinterest.com

Fate Sorayi Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari developed tragically. The girl came from an old Iranian family, married the last shah of Iran Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, became a queen, but could not find personal happiness. The royal couple had no children, and Pahlavi decided to take a second wife into his house, willing to give him an heir. Then Soraya made a difficult decision to sacrifice her marital happiness as a sacrifice of state interests, and agreed to a divorce …

Queen of Iran Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari. Photo: mulpix.com
Queen of Iran Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari. Photo: mulpix.com

For Mohammed Reza Pehlavi, the union with Soraya was a second marriage. A charming and well-educated polyglot girl won the heart of Shah Pahlavi. In 1948, he was shown a photograph of the beauty, and the recently divorced Pahlavi immediately decided to propose to Soraya. As a sign of deep sympathy, he presented her with a 22-carat diamond ring, and the girl agreed.

Charming Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari. Photo: pinterest.com
Charming Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari. Photo: pinterest.com

The wedding took place in 1951, since before that Soraya was undergoing treatment. Leaders of many states sent festive congratulations to the couple, and among the wedding gifts were truly luxurious things. In particular, Joseph Stalin sent a luxurious mink coat and a telephone inlaid with black diamonds, Queen Elizabeth - antique silver candlesticks, and Harry Truman - a porcelain bowl.

Portrait of Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari. Photo: pinterest.com
Portrait of Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari. Photo: pinterest.com
Queen of Iran Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari
Queen of Iran Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari

Celebrated - on a grand scale. Christian Dior worked on the wedding dress, dozens of florists to whom fresh flowers were delivered from the Netherlands worked on decorating the halls, eminent artists performed at the festival. The guests were asked to donate money to charities that help the poor in Iran, instead of giving gifts to the young.

Queen of Iran Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari. Photo: royalisticism.blogspot.com
Queen of Iran Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari. Photo: royalisticism.blogspot.com

The marriage of Soraya and Mohammed lasted seven years. When it became clear that Soraya's infertility treatment was not working, Mohammed decided that he wanted to find a second wife for himself. He needed an heir to keep the throne, but Soraya didn't even want to hear about polygamy. She left the residence, went to live with her parents in Germany. There she was caught by Mohammed's decision to divorce.

Royal wedding. Photo: bakhtiarifamily.com
Royal wedding. Photo: bakhtiarifamily.com

Despite the divorce, Soraya retained the royal title. True, her later life was filled with sadness and longing. At the time of the divorce, Soraya was only 26 years old, she tried to cope with the rolling depression, occasionally starred in films, but did not build a successful acting career. Soraya lived 69 years old, she had short-lived love affairs, but she was not really happy. Traveling through Europe, Soraya seemed to be trying to escape from herself, from her melancholy and despair, but her depression continued. Soraya died alone in her home in 2001, the presumed cause of death was a stroke. She bequeathed all her fortune to the Red Cross, as well as a public organization that supports children with disabilities, and an organization that helps homeless animals.

Queen of Iran Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari with her husband. Photo: gagdaily.com
Queen of Iran Soraya Isfandiyari-Bakhtiari with her husband. Photo: gagdaily.com

Mohammed's first wife was Fawzia Fuad, the last princess of Egypt.

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