How a Pakistani Girl Married a Jordanian Prince — and Almost Became The Queen

Princess Sarwath al-Hassan was a young Pakistani woman when, in 1968, she married Prince Hassan bin Talal, the brother of King Hussein of Jordan. For more than 30 years, she stood faithfully by her husband's side as the wife of the Crown Prince of Jordan, living inside the palace and fulfilling her royal duties. Everything suggested that she would one day become queen. But one decision changed everything. So what really happened? And what has her life been like today? Watch the full video to find out. Don't forget to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and hit the bell icon to get notified when I upload a new video. Let's begin. In the official family photo taken during the wedding of Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein and his bride, Rajwa, in 2024, one woman quietly drew a lot of attention. She was wearing traditional South Asian attire, standing among the Hashemite royal family, and many viewers immediately began asking the same question, who is she? That woman was Princess Sarwath al-Hassan, the wife of Prince Hassan bin Talal. Today, she is one of the most respected figures within Jordan's royal circle. But before becoming a Jordanian princess, Sarwath came from a very different world. She was born Sarwath Ikramullah on July 24, 1947, in Calcutta, then part of British India, into a highly influential Muslim family. Her father, Muhammad Ikramullah, was a prominent diplomat who served in the Indian civil service before partition, and later became Pakistan's first foreign secretary. Her mother, Shista Surawardi, was also a historic figure. One of Pakistan's first female members of parliament, and later an ambassador to Morocco. Because of her parents' diplomatic careers, Sarwath spent much of her childhood moving between different countries. She grew up in an international environment and received her education in several places. One of them was Britain, where she attended Somerville College at Oxford University, studying English literature. It was during this time that she met Prince Hassan bin Talal, who was reportedly her classmate. However, according to several accounts, their families already knew each other well, and the two had even played together as children. At the time, Prince Hassan bin Talal was one of the most important figures in Jordan's royal family. He was the younger brother of King Hussein, and had already been appointed Crown Prince of Jordan, a position he would hold for decades. What began as a friendship during their university years slowly turned into a romantic relationship. Prince Hassan eventually proposed to Sarwath, and she happily accepted. Their wedding took place in August 1968 in Karachi, Pakistan. The ceremony was a beautiful blend of Pakistani, Jordanian, and Western traditions. After the wedding, the couple moved to Amman, where they went on to have four children together. At that time, Sarwath became one of the highest-ranking women in Jordan's royal family. As the wife of the Crown Prince, she was very close to the throne and held an important public role in the kingdom. As Crown Princess, Sarwath chose to focus on serving society rather than seeking attention. She supported and launched many initiatives in education, women and family issues, social welfare, and health care. Much of her work aimed to improve schools, support disadvantaged women, encourage community service, and help people with mental and learning disabilities. At the same time, Princess Sarwath was always by Prince Hassan's side during official duties. She accompanied him on international state visits, attended royal ceremonies, and represented Jordan abroad with grace and dignity. Throughout her years as Crown Princess, she also remained deeply connected to her South Asian heritage. She was often seen wearing elegant saris at official events, beautifully blending the traditions of her birthplace with the customs of her adopted country. With time, Princess Sarwath became a respected and admired figure in Jordan. Many people appreciated her quiet dedication, her loyalty to her husband, and her sincere commitment to helping others. For many years, it seemed clear that she was preparing to one day become Queen of Jordan. But everything changed in the late 1990s. King Hussein's health began to decline rapidly as he battled cancer, and the question of succession suddenly became urgent. During this period, tensions reportedly grew between Princess Sarwath and Queen Noor, King Hussein's fourth wife. As the mother of Prince Hamza, Queen Noor was naturally focused on securing her son's future within the monarchy, and many believed she hoped Hamza would one day succeed his father. This quietly placed her interests in contrast with those of Prince Hussein and Princess Sarwath. According to some sources, tensions increased when Princess Sarwath reportedly began making plans for redecorating the royal apartment even before King Hussein had passed away, a move that allegedly angered Queen Noor. As the king's condition worsened, these divisions became harder to hide. While King Hussein was receiving cancer treatment in the United States, Prince Hassan was appointed to act as regent. During this period, he is believed to have made changes intended to secure his position as future king, a move that reportedly upset King Hussein. In January 1999, just days before his death, King Hussein made a dramatic and unexpected decision. He removed Prince Hassan from the position of crown prince and named his eldest son, Abdullah, as the new heir to the throne. The decision stunned both the royal family and the Jordanian public. Prince Hassan and Princess Sarwath had spent decades preparing for a future that suddenly disappeared overnight. Despite this, they did not step away from public life. They continued to play significant roles in Jordan and remained actively involved in national and international events. Princess Sarwath stayed by her husband's side, just as she had done for decades. Together, they attended official ceremonies and international meetings, representing Jordan with experience and dignity. Among Jordanians, Princess Sarwath remained a respected and loved figure, admired for her loyalty, calm personality, and lifelong service. Today, Princess Sarwath and Prince Hassan are both 78 years old and have been married for nearly 58 years. Despite everything they faced, their bond has remained strong. Their marriage has truly passed the test of time, and many people see their relationship as a rare example of lasting love and loyalty within a royal family. Together, Princess Sarwath and Prince Hassan also built a strong and close family. Their children, Princess Rahma, Princess Sumaya, Princess Badia, and Prince Rashid are all married and have families of their own. Their eldest daughter, Princess Rahma, is now 56 years old and works in the fields of education and sports. Princess Sumaya, now 54, is especially known for her public service. She founded Princess Sumaya University for Technology and became one of Jordan's most respected figures in education and science. Princess Badia, 51, made history as the first member of the Jordanian royal family to become a lawyer. Their youngest child, Prince Rashid, now 46, remains closely involved in national affairs and currently serves as an advisor to King Abdullah II. Princess Sarwath continues to work on the projects she initiated and to defend the causes that defined her years as Crown Princess. Though she never became Queen of Jordan, she earned something far more lasting, the respect of the people. Do you think Princess Sarwath would have made a good Queen of Jordan? Share your thoughts in the comments. And that's it. If you enjoyed the video and want more like it, be sure to leave a thumbs up below in appreciation. And if you haven't already, you really want to subscribe, subscribe to my channel, and tick the bell icon so you get notified as I upload a new video every week. See you in the next video.