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Alia al-Hussein (née Baha Eddin Toukan), Queen of Jordan

(1948-1977), Third wife of King Hussein of Jordan

Sitter in 1 portrait
Egyptian-born Alia al-Hussein travelled extensively with her parents while her father served in Jordan's diplomatic services. Alia lived in Egypt, Turkey, London, the United States and Rome, and studied political science and public relations at Hunter College in New York. In 1971, she moved to Jordan where she worked for Royal Jordanian. She was asked by King Hussein bin Talal to oversee the preparations for the first International Water Skiing Festival held in Aqaba in September 1972, eventually marrying him in a private ceremony with twelve guests on 24 December 1972. She was a speaker for women's rights and called for women to be granted the right to vote and be elected for parliament. On 9 February 1977, a military helicopter carrying Queen Alia home after a humanitarian visit to inspect the Tafileh Hospital in southern Jordan crashed in a rainstorm killing all passengers. She was 28 years old.

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