Prince Muhammad bin Talal (2 October 1940 – 29 April 2021) was a member of the Jordanian royal family. He was the second son of King Talal of Jordan and the younger brother of

King Hussein of Jordan Hussein bin Talal (14 November 1935 – 7 February 1999) was King of Jordan from 1952 until his death in 1999. As a member of the Hashemite dynasty, the royal family of Jordan since 1921, Hussein was traditionally considered a 40th-generatio ...

. He was heir-presumptive to the throne from his elder brother's accession in 1952, until the birth of his nephew ( Abdullah) in 1962.

Education

Prince Muhammad completed his primary schooling at the Islamic Scientific College in

Amman Amman ( , ; , ) is the capital and the largest city of Jordan, and the country's economic, political, and cultural center. With a population of four million as of 2021, Amman is Jordan's primate city and is the largest city in the Levant ...

and then attended the

Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil, known informally as Beau Soleil, is a private boarding school in Switzerland. Founded in 1910 by Madame Bluette Ferrier, it is located above sea level on the Swiss Alps of Villars-sur-Ollon. The college p ...

in Switzerland. He then went to

Bryanston School Bryanston School is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English Private schools in the United Kingdom, private boarding school, boarding and day school for pupils aged 13–18) located next to the village of Bryanston, and near the ...

, Dorset, in the United Kingdom where he finished his secondary education. Between 1956 and 1957 he attended the Military Academy in

Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...

. In 1960 he earned his private pilot's license.

Career

Upon his return to Jordan in 1958, Prince Muhammad joined the Jordan Arab Army and served in the first Royal Guard Regiment before becoming Aide de Camp to

King Hussein Hussein bin Talal (14 November 1935 – 7 February 1999) was King of Jordan from 1952 until his death in 1999. As a member of the Hashemite dynasty, the royal family of Jordan since 1921, Hussein was traditionally considered a 40th-generati ...

. Prince Muhammad was made

Crown Prince A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title, crown princess, is held by a woman who is heir apparent or is married to the heir apparent. ''Crown prince ...

of Jordan in 1952 when his elder brother Crown Prince Hussein became king. He held the post until 1962. In 1971, he was appointed head of the council of tribal chiefs by King Hussein. In 1973, a royal decree invested him as the personal representative of King Hussein. He then headed the supreme committee for tourism in Jordan. He also served as regent and as head of the regency council on numerous occasions in the absence of the King. He held the honorary rank of full general in the

Jordanian Armed Forces The Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) (, romanized: ''Al-Quwwat Al-Musallaha Al-Urduniyya''), also referred to as the Arab Army (, ''Al-Jaysh Al-Arabi''), are the military forces of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. They consist of the ground forces, ...

as well as many high decorations from Jordan and other countries.

Personal life and death

Prince Muhammad was born in Amman on 2 October 1940. He first married Firyal Irshaid in 1964. They had two sons: Prince Talal (born 26 July 1965) and Prince Ghazi (born 15 October 1966). Their marriage ended in divorce. In 1981 he married his second wife Taghrid Majali, daughter of

Hazza' al-Majali Hazza' Barakat al-Majali (1917 – 29 August 1960) () was a Jordanian politician that served as the two-time 11th Prime Minister of Jordan. His first term lasted one week in 1955, his second term lasted from mid-1959 until his assassination. ...

a two time

Prime Minister of Jordan The prime minister of Jordan is the head of government of the Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The prime minister is appointed by the List of kings of Jordan, king of Jordan, who is then free to form his own Cabinet of Jordan, Cabinet. Th ...

who was assassinated in 1959 while in office. Prince Muhammad died on 29 April 2021 in Amman at the age of 80.

Honours

National honours

*Grand Cordon of the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali with Collar of Jordan *Grand Cordon of the

Supreme Order of the Renaissance The Supreme Order of the Renaissance (,) is the second-most senior order of merit in the Kingdom of Jordan. History The order was instituted in 1917 by Emir Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca. According to correspondence between the British For ...

(special class) of Jordan *Grand Cordon of the

Order of Independence (Jordan) The Order of Independence (''Wisam al-Istiqial'') is the fourth knighthood order of the Kingdom of Jordan. History It was instituted in 1921 by Emir Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca. Grades The Order of Independence is divided in five class ...

*Grand Cordon of the

Order of the Star of Jordan The Order of the Star of Jordan (Wisam al-Kawkab al-Urduni) or The Order of Hussein ibn Ali (Wisam al-Hussein ibn Ali) is an award and order of Jordan and is awarded for military or civil merit. It was founded in honour of his father, by King ...

*Long Service Medal *Good Conduct Medal *King Hussein Silver Jubilee Medal-1977 *1967–1971 Service Medal-1971 *Honorary President of the Royal Jordanian Chess Federation *Honorary President of the Jordanian Shooting Federation *Honorary President of the British Federation of Kyokushinkai Karate holding a first Dan and honorary fifth Dan in that martial art.

Foreign honours

* : Grand Cross of the

Order of the Dannebrog The Order of the Dannebrog () is a Denmark, Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V of Denmark, Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the Order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single cla ...

– 27 April 1998 * : Grand Cross of the

Order of the Queen of Sheba The Order of the Queen of Sheba was originally instituted as a ladies' order in 1922 in the Ethiopian Empire The Ethiopian Empire, historically known as Abyssinia or simply Ethiopia, was a sovereign state that encompassed the present-day ...

* : Grand Cross of the Order of National Merit * : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic – 26 November 1983 * : Grand Cordon of the

Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese honors system, Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge feat ...

– 1978 * : Honorary Grand Commander of the

Order of the Defender of the Realm The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm () is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace of God-Defender of the Realm). The o ...

– 24 April 1965 * : Grand Cordon of the

Order of Muhammad The Order of Muhammad, also referred to as Order of Sovereignty (, French: ''Ordre de la Souveraineté'' or ''Ordre de Mohammed''), is the highest state decoration of the Kingdom of Morocco. The Order was instituted on 16 November 1956 by King ...

– 1950 * : Grand Cordon of the

Order of Abdulaziz al Saud The Order of King Abdulaziz (Arabic: وسام الملك عبد العزيز Wisām al-malik ‘Abd al-‘Azīz) is a Saudi Arabian order of merit. The order was named after Abdulaziz Al Saud, founder of the modern Saudi state. History In 1971 ...

* : Grand Cordon of the

Order of Brilliant Star Order of Brilliant Star () is a civilian order of the Republic of China (Taiwan) recognizing outstanding contributions to the development of the nation. The order is instituted in 1941 and can be awarded to both domestic and foreign nationals. ...

* : Honorary

Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order The Royal Victorian Order () is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the monarch, members of the royal family, or to any viceroy or senior representative of the ...

(GCVO) – 27 March 1984

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Muhammad Bin Talal 1940 births 2021 deaths House of Hashim Jordanian Muslims Princes of Jordan Crown princes of Jordan People from Amman Grand Cordons of the Order of Independence (Jordan) Recipients of the Order of Al-Hussein bin Ali Recipients of Supreme Order of the Renaissance (Jordan) Recipients of the Order of The Star of Jordan Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Jordanian generals Grand Cross of the Ordre national du Mérite Grand Crosses of the Order of the Dannebrog Grand Cordons of the Order of the Rising Sun Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Recipients of the Order of Brilliant Star Sons of kings 20th-century Jordanian people People educated at Bryanston School Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil alumni Recipients of orders, decorations, and medals of Ethiopia