SHAH OF IRAN’S WIFE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 230, 30 September 1941, Page 2

SHAH OF IRAN’S WIFE

STRANGE MARRIAGE CEREMONY. The new Shah ot Iran has a very attractive young wife, to whom lie was married in Cairo on March 15, 1939. after a courtship of less than a tortnight from the day when he first met his bride. The betrothal of the young couple was announced on May 26, 1938, but they did not meet until 10 months later. The Crown Prince’s bride was Princess Fawzia, the eldest unmarried sister of King Farouk of Egypt, and when the engagement was announced she was only 17 years old. The marriage, which created great rejoicing at the time, was a simple ceremony at which, according to custom, the bride was not present, but remained in a neighbouring apartment until it was over, in conformity with tradition, her wedding presents from the bridegroom-to-be included a diamond ring, a mirror, and a copy of the Koran, while her trousseau was of magnificent proportions and included, in addition to magnificent clothes and furs, jewels to the value of £55,000. It is a far cry from Iran to New Zealand, but a slight link was formed between the two countries recently when a member of the 2nd. New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Captain Patrick Cripp, married Miss Winifred Johnson, who had been for three years nurse to Princess Fawzia and one of her sisters.