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With celebrations still in the air for His Majesty King Abdullah II to mark his Silver Jubilee that posed a lavish ceremony, the presence of HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein didn’t go unnoticed.
While many may not know, Princess Muna Al Hussein, mother of King Abdullah, shares a captivating story. Whether it’s her astounding philanthropic initiatives or her refined queen poise, she is a woman who brings a plethora of intriguing experiences.
From living abroad with her army officer father to marrying a King a year later, GRAZIA brings you six facts about the UK-born turned Jordanian royal.
She was born in England
By origin, Princess Muna Al Hussein, previously Antoinette Avril Gardiner, was born and raised in the humble town of Chelmondiston, Suffolk, England. But with her father, Walter Percy ‘Tony’ Gardiner who became a high-ranking officer in the army, she later spent much of her time overseas.
An A-grade Hockey Player
Since Princess Muna grew up outside the United Kingdom, most of her education was established abroad wherever her father was stationed. She later grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she studied at the Bourne School, which was funded by the British Families Education Service for the children of army personnel. And intriguingly enough, her finesse with the hockey sport awarded her to be an A-grade player in her adolescent years.
She Met King Hussein through her father
Due to her father’s constant travel and her livelihood spent on the move, its through her father’s career that led up to her meeting with the late King Hussein. While her father was stationed in Jordan in 1960, Princess Muna worked as a secretarial assistant in Jordan Radio where the film Lawrence of Arabia was being filmed.
Amidst her work for the established channel, King Hussein permitted the army troops to work as extras in the movie and occasionally visited the set to watch the progress. They soon later met at a fancy dress party where introductions were made.
Became a princess in 1961
When King Hussein met the then Antoinette, he was already approaching his 10th year of reign as the King of Jordan. Within a year after their first meeting in 1960, they soon tied the knot on May 21, 1961, when Antoinette changed her name to Princess Muna Al Hussein.
Even though the royal matrimony took place in a modest palace owned by King Hussein’s mother, they soon welcomed four children which added to the royal lineage. The siblings of King Abdullah II, Prince Faisal bin Hussein and twin daughters Princess Aisha and Zeina bin Hussein.
resides in a palace of her own in Amman, Jordan
Despite having a strong 10-year marriage, the royal couple later divorced in December 1971, with Princess Muna retaining custody of the four children. She later moved into a palace in Hummar which was gifted to her by King Hussein, which she has resided in over the last 50 years. Even then, the Princess and the late King maintained good relations.
A Philanthropist in healthcare
Throughout her tenure as Princess, she has contributed to the Kingdom’s advancement. With deep adoration for nursing, it later inspired her to open the Princess Muna Scholarship Fund For Nursing. Through this funding initiative, it helps empower women from regions where education isn’t up to par with regional and international standards.
Not stopping there, she later formed the Princess Muna College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions. Which for the last 20 years, has allowed Jordanian women to receive quality education to pursue nursing.
