October 27, 1940, marked the birth of Shahnaz Pahlavi in Tehran, the first child born to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his initial wife, Fawzia of Egypt. Her life began a year before her father ascended the Iranian throne, placing her at the center of a prominent geopolitical lineage spanning both the Iranian and Egyptian royal houses.
Early Development and Education
The childhood of Shahnaz Pahlavi was defined by the dissolution of her parents' marriage; they separated when she was five and finalized their divorce three years later. She remained in Iran with her father following the split. Her formal education took place in Europe, specifically at the Lycée Léonie de Waha in Liège, Belgium, followed by further studies in Switzerland.
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Before marrying, Pahlavi declined a proposed match with King Faisal II of Iraq. Her first marriage occurred on October 11, 1957, at the Golestan Palace in Tehran to Ardeshir Zahedi, a diplomat who served as the Iranian foreign minister and twice as ambassador to the United States. This union produced one daughter and ended in divorce in 1964. In February 1971, she wed Khosrow Jahanbani, the son of General Amanullah Jahanbani, at the Iranian embassy in Paris. This marriage lasted until Jahanbani died on April 13, 2014.
Economic Interests and Later Life
During the reign of her father, Pahlavi engaged in business activities including investments in agriculture. She was also involved in assembly plants for a joint venture producing Honda bicycles and motorcycles within Iran. Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, she has resided in Switzerland and maintains Swiss citizenship. In December 2013, she received Egyptian citizenship from the government of Egypt.
Lineage and Honors
As the daughter of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Fawzia of Egypt, her maternal grandparents were King Fuad I and Queen Nazli of Egypt, while her paternal grandparents were Reza Shah and Queen Tadj ol-Molouk of Iran. She is the niece of King Farouk I and a cousin to King Fuad II. She holds several imperial honors, including the Grand Cross of the Order of Aryamehr and the Grand Cross of the Order of the Pleiades.
Fast facts
- Born: 27 October 1940, Tehran
- First Marriage: 11 October 1957
- Second Marriage: February 1971
- Residence: Switzerland
- Citizenship: Iran, Switzerland, Egypt
Questions readers ask
Where does Shahnaz Pahlavi reside?
She has lived in Switzerland since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
Who were her parents?
Her parents were Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his first wife, Fawzia of Egypt.
