Prince Talal bin Muhammad (born 26 July 1965) is a member of the Jordanian royal family. He is the eldest son of Prince Muhammad bin Talal, 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 ...

, and first cousin of the current King Abdullah; this makes him 13th in the

line of succession to the Jordanian throne Succession to the Jordanian throne is regulated by Article 28 of the Constitution of Jordan. It consists of the line of people who are eligible to succeed to the throne of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Succession rules The throne currently p ...

. He has one brother, Prince Ghazi (b. 1966).

Biography

Prince Talal's early education took place in Jordan, and from 1975 to 1983 he attended

Harrow School Harrow School () is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English boarding school for boys) in Harrow on the Hill, Greater London, England. The school was founded in 1572 by John Lyon (school founder), John Lyon, a local landowner an ...

in the United Kingdom. In September 1983 he entered the

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS or RMA Sandhurst), commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is one of several military academy, military academies of the United Kingdom and is the British Army's initial Commissioned officer, officer train ...

in the United Kingdom, and upon passing in April 1984 was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Jordan Arab Army. After a few months in the Jordanian Army, he entered the

School of Foreign Service The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) is the school of international relations at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. It grants degrees at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Founded in 1919, SFS is the oldest continu ...

Georgetown University Georgetown University is a private university, private Jesuit research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Founded by Bishop John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), John Carroll in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic higher education, Ca ...

, Washington DC in September 1984. He completed the five-year joint degree

Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) is the school of international relations at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. It grants degrees at both Undergraduate education, undergraduate and Postgraduate education, graduate lev ...

–

Master of Science in Foreign Service This list refers to specific master's degrees in North America. Please see master's degree for a more general overview. Accountancy Master of Accountancy (MAcc, MAc, MAcy or MPAcc), alternatively Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAcy or M ...

(BSFS-MSFS) program, concentrating in International Politics for his BS Degree and US Foreign Policy and Diplomacy for his MS Degree. After undergoing further military training the US and the UK, Talal returned to 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, ...

, where he served as a Company Commander in a Special Forces battalion from March 1990 until March 1991. On 25 March 1991, he was appointed as Military Secretary to King Hussein. In this capacity he functioned as a personal aide to the King, taking the minutes of his meetings and accompanying him daily on his activities within Jordan and his official trips abroad. These duties expanded to charge of the King's political correspondence and speech writing – Prince Talal co-authored King Hussein's speech before a Joint Session of the US Congress marking the end of a State of War between Jordan and Israel in July 1994. Talal was further entrusted by King Hussein with intelligence liaison activities and confidential political missions. In addition to this, Prince Talal was appointed by King Hussein as his Personal Representative in the United States in February 1992 – a position he held until the death of King Hussein in February 1999. This involved enhancing relations with the US Administration, Government and Congress following the

Gulf War , combatant2 = , commander1 = , commander2 = , strength1 = Over 950,000 soldiers3,113 tanks1,800 aircraft2,200 artillery systems , page = https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-96- ...

of 1991. Talal also advanced the King's official trips to the US, arranging his program and topics of discussion with US officials. He would then prepare his talking points, and remain behind in the US after each visit to follow up any outstanding issues. He was closely involved in securing the forgiveness of Jordan's $700 million debt to the US and the transfer of a squadron of F-16 fighter aircraft from the US to Jordan following the Washington Declaration of July 1994. In August 1996, Prince Talal was appointed by King Hussein as Director of the National Security Council, with the task of establishing the National Security Council of Jordan. Amongst other things, he was responsible for the recruitment, training, and organization of the NSC Staff; the compilation of electronic data bases and Intelnet setup; coordination with the relevant government officials and bodies; intelligence liaison; producing and distributing a daily brief and in-depth studies; and compiling the Agenda for NSC meetings. Following the death of King Hussein, Prince Talal continued to hold this post until August 1999, when King Abdullah II appointed him as his National Security Advisor. He held this post until September 2001 when he was appointed Special Advisor to King Abdullah II.

Personal life

In 1991, Prince Talal married Ghida Salaam, daughter of Hany Sala'am and Raja'a Arab. The couple live in Jordan with their three children: Prince Hussein (born 1999) and twins Princess Raja'a and Prince Muhammad (born 2001).

Education

1975–1983 The Harrow School in Harrow, London, England. 1983–1984 The

, UK. (Standard Military Course No.34) 1984–1989 Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Washington DC, USA. Five-year Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service-Master of Science in Foreign Service Joint Degree program BSFS Concentration: International Politics, Law and Organization. MSFS Concentration: US Foreign Policy and Diplomacy 1975–1978

St Edmund's School St Edmund's School Canterbury is a private day and boarding school located in Canterbury, Kent, England and established in 1749. The extensive school grounds were acquired in 1855. The school currently caters for girls and boys aged 3–18, in ...

, UK 1973–1975 American Community School, Amman 1972–1973 Orthodox College, Amman

Career

*Sept. 2001 – present Special Advisor to King Abdullah II *Aug.1999-Sept.2001 National Security Advisor to King Abdullah II and Director of the National Security Council *Aug.1996-Aug.1999 Director of the National Security Council *Feb.1992-Feb.1999 Personal Representative of King Hussein in the United States of America *Mar.1991-Aug.1996 Military Secretary of King Hussein *Mar.1990-Mar.1991 Officer Commanding, 2nd Company, 91st SpecialForces Battalion, Khaw, Jordan *Aug.1984-Mar.1990 Special Forces Brigade Headquarters *May–Aug. 1984 Deputy A-Team Leader, 1st Company, 101st Special Forces Battalion, Hashemiyyah, Jordan

Other activities

* Sept. 2008 – present Advisory Board Member, The James Martin 21st century School, Oxford University, UK * Feb.2001– March 2002 Chairman of the National Landmine Removal and Rehabilitation Commission, Jordan * Sept.1997 – present Member of the Higher Committee of the Retired Servicemen and Veterans Association, Jordan * Sept.1998-Sept.2001 Chairman of the Board of Trustees,

Mutah University Mu’tah University (, ''Jāmi‘atu Mu'tah'') is a public university in the Jordanian town of Mu'tah which was founded on 22 March 1981 by the Royal Decree to be a national institution for military and civilian higher education. Academics In ...

, Kerak, Jordan * Sept.1998-Sept.2001 Member of the Committee of Higher Education, Jordan

Honours

National honours

* : 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 ...

* : Grand Cordon of the

Order of Independence Order of Independence or Independence Order () is a Vietnamese decoration. Criteria The Vietnamese government states that the decoration "shall be conferred or posthumously Posthumous may refer to: * Posthumous award, an award, prize or med ...

Foreign honours

* : Knight Grand Cross of the

Royal Norwegian Order of Merit The Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (Norwegian: ''Den Kongelige Norske Fortjenstorden'' (Bokmål) or ''Den Kongelege Norske Fortenesteordenen'' (Nynorsk)) was instituted by King Olav V in 1985. It is awarded to foreigners, Norwegian citizens livin ...

(4.4.2000) * : Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (2.12.1994) * : Commander Grand Cross of the

Order of the Polar Star The Royal Order of the Polar Star (Swedish language, Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden''), sometimes translated as the Royal Order of the North Star, is a Swedish order of chivalry created by Frederick I of Sweden, King Frederick I on 23 F ...

(15.11.2022)

Appointments

Military promotions

*June 2009 Major-General *June 2002 Brigadier-General *May 1997 Colonel *June 1994 Lieutenant-Colonel *Nov.1992 Major *Nov.1989 Captain *Nov.1986 1st Lieutenant *Apr. 1984 Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Talal Bin Muhammad House of Hashim Jordanian Muslims Princes of Jordan Living people People from Amman 1965 births People educated at Harrow School Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Walsh School of Foreign Service alumni Jordanian generals Grand Cordons of the Order of Independence (Jordan) Recipients of the Order of The Star of Jordan Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic Recipients of the King's Medal of Merit Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star