Princess Alia bint Al Hussein of Jordan was born on 13 February 1956 to King Hussein of Jordan

Hussein of Jordan

Hussein bin Talal was the third King of Jordan from the abdication of his father, King Talal, in 1952, until his death. Hussein's rule extended through the Cold War and four decades of Arab-Israeli conflict...

 and his first wife, Sharifa Dina bint 'Abdu'l-Hamid.

Education

Princess Alia received her primary education in Amman, attending Ahliyyah School for Girls and Rosary College. She then attended Sibton Park School in Lyminge, UK, until 1968, after spending one year at Benenden School in Kent, UK (1969–70), and obtaining her A levels in Arabic, English and French from Millfield School in Somerset, UK, in 1972. Princess Alia graduated with honours from the University of Jordan in 1977, obtaining a bachelors degree in English literature.

Life and Activities

Princess Alia worked as registrar and artist with the British School of Archaeology under Crystal Benett OBE, and has been a member of Fakherelnissa' Zeid's Art Group since the 1980s. In her capacity as director of the Royal Stables of Jordan for the Preservation of the Arabian Horse, Princess Alia initiated the festival of the "Arabian Horse at Home" in 1988 (now a yearly event). She also organized the Middle East Championships for Purebred Horses, Jordan.

Affiliations:

• President of the Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation since 1993
• Honorary President of the Jordanian Philatelic Society
• Honorary President of the Circassian Ladies' Welfare Society
• Honorary President of the Society for the Development & Welfare of Rural Women
• Patron-Brooke Hospital for Animals, UK, Princess Alia Clinic Wadi Musa
• Governor-British Arab Horse Society

Princess Alia has held a 2 Dan Black Belt Tae Kwondo since 1987, and enjoys equestrianism, horse breeding, judging (Arabian horses), collecting stamps, reading and sports in general.

Marriage

Princess Alia married Nasser Wasfi Mirza in 1977 and has one son from the marriage HH Prince Hussein Mirza (born 12 February 1981). Alia and Mirza divorced in 1988.

Princess Alia married Sayyid Mohammed Al-Saleh in 1988. They have two children, Talal Al-Saleh (b. 12 September 1989) and Abdul Hamid Al-Saleh (b. 15 November 1992).