Princess Sarvath El Hassan - Career and Controversy

Career and Controversy

Princess Sarvath served as Crown Princess of Jordan for over 30 years, as the wife of the Crown Prince. She initiated, sponsored and continues to support many projects and activities in Jordan, mainly in the field of education, in addition to issues pertaining to women and the family, social welfare and health. For example, much of her work focuses on promoting education about various topics (both locally and internationally), assisting disadvantaged women, encouraging community service and helping people with mental and learning disabilities.

There have been tensions between Princess Sarvath and her sister-in-law, Queen Noor. The tensions between the Queen, who wanted her own son Hamzah to be proclaimed Crown Prince, and the then Crown Princess Sarvath were exacerbated by the matter of succession during the last days of King Hussein's life. According to off-the-record briefings by anonymous palace officials in Amman, a rumour based story was being circulated that Princess Sarvath had drawn up plans for a redecoration of the entire Jordanian Royal Apartment, before King Hussein had even died of cancer. This allegedly occurring while the King was undergoing chemotherapy in the United States and Prince Hassan was running the country in his place. On the contrary, other sources state that the Princess actually gave orders for some state apartments to be spruced up, in preparing to receive a foreign delegation. Furthermore, certain accounts imply that only a kitchen was renovated for the visit of Germany's then President, Roman Herzog, who was travelling with his native cook.

Some people also believe that the Princess' Pakistani roots, may have (partly) been an obstacle in reference to ascending the throne (along with her husband) and becoming Queen. Others hold the viewpoint, that the succession change had to do with completely different reasons.