Princess Firyal


Princess Firyal is a Jordanian princess, humanitarian, and philanthropist.
She has been a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 1992, for whom she works on programs for education and protection of world heritage. She is a board member at the International Rescue Committee, New York Public Library, and a wide range of museums and universities, including the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Princess Firyal is a graduate of Columbia University. From 1964 to 1978 she was married to Prince Muhammad bin Talal—younger brother of the late HM King Hussein of Jordan—by whom she has two sons, Prince Talal and Prince Ghazi.

Biography

Early life and education

Born in Jerusalem Firyal Irshaid is the daughter of the late Farid Mahmoud Irshaid, a political leader who served as a Minister in the Government and a Parliamentarian in the Senate in Jordan. Her mother Farida was Chair of the Red Crescent Society in The West Bank.
Princess Firyal attended Berzeit College. She studied for two years at the American College for Women in Beirut prior to her marriage; she resumed her studies and earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia University School of General Studies in 1999.

Career

The Princess was appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1992. Three years later, in 1995, she was appointed Special Advisor to the Director General of UNESCO. She works primarily on programs for protection of world heritage and education.
In Jordan, Princess Firyal became active in relief work in refugee camps. She worked for the literacy programs with the nomadic Bedouin tribes. Princess Firyal also established the family planning program.
Princess Firyal launched the International Hope Foundation under the UNESCO umbrella in 1994 for the benefit of homeless and street children.
The princess's philanthropic positions and credentials include:
Irshaid was married to Prince Muhammad bin Talal, with whom she had sons Prince Talal bin Muhammad and Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, between 1964 and 1978. After their marriage ended in divorce, she was a longtime companion to Lionel Pincus.

Honours