News For Women WOMEN BEHIND THE THRONE IN JORDAN

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28263, 29 April 1957, Page 2

News For Women WOMEN BEHIND THE THRONE IN JORDAN

[By SUSAN VAUGHAN]

Has a woman been the key figure behind the scenes during the crisis in Jordan? Political observers do not rule out the possibility. Indeed, some say that a woman has had a hand in all the major political moves, even in the sacking of General Glubb a year ago. What woman might wield such power behind the throne? Littleknown Queen Zeine, the Queen Mother. The real extent of her power is uncertain, but King Hussein came completely under her influence at the age of 17—and he is now only 21. Queen Zeine is a strong personality and is in full command of the domestic side of the Royal household.

She was the Court Chamberlain’s daughter when King Abdullah’s son, Talal, fell in love with her in the early 1930’5. For a while, all went well after her marriage; then her life followed a tragic pattern. Almost from the moment of Talal’s succession to the throne after his father’s assassination, he was mentally ill. Several times Queen Zeine sought police protection and in 1952 the King was deposed and placed under medical care. These events undermined the Queen’s health and she has frequently had .to seek medical advice. Three years ago, she came to London to consult a Harley street specialist.

She loves visiting London, chiefly because of the shops there, and on her last visit she lunched with the Queen and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace. The other woman in King Hussein’s life is his beautiful 24-year-old wife, Queen Dina. But

for seven months she has been on a so-called “holiday” in Cairo. Stories of a rift between her and the Queen Mother have, however, been denied. Queen Dina, then a princess, first met the King in 1950 at her

father’s home in Cairo. They became close friends when they met again in Britain two years later. The King was at Harrow, and she was at Girton College, Cambridge, where she took her B.A. degree with honours. Later she became the first princess to qualify as a lecturer in English it Cairo University. The King and the princess were married in April, 1955, They have a baby daughter.