Prince Talal bin Muhammad

Prince Talal bin Muhammad
Prince Talal bin Muhammad
Born	26 July 1965 (age 59); Amman, Jordan
Spouse	Ghida Sala'am (m. 1991)
Issue	Prince Hussein; Princess Raja'a; Prince Muhammad;
House	Hashemite
Father	Prince Muhammad bin Talal
Mother	Firyal Irshaid
Religion	Islam

Prince Talal bin Muhammad^[1] (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, and first cousin of the current King Abdullah; this makes him 13th in the line of succession to the Jordanian throne. He has one brother, Prince Ghazi (b. 1966).^[2]

Biography

Prince Talal's early education took place in Jordan, and from 1975 to 1983 he attended Harrow School in the United Kingdom.^[3] In September 1983 he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, and upon passing in April 1984 was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Jordan Arab Army.^[4] After a few months in the Jordanian Army, he entered the School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University, Washington DC in September 1984. He completed the five-year joint degree Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service – Master of Science in Foreign Service (BSFS-MSFS) program, concentrating in International Politics for his BS Degree and US Foreign Policy and Diplomacy for his MS Degree.^[5]

After undergoing further military training the US and the UK, Talal returned to the Jordanian Armed 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.^[6]

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 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.^{[citation needed]}^[7]

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.^[8]

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 Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, 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, 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^[9]

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, Kerak, Jordan

Sept.1998-Sept.2001

Member of the Committee of Higher Education, Jordan

Honours

National honours

Jordan : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Star of Jordan ^{[citation needed]}
Jordan : Grand Cordon of the Order of Independence ^{[citation needed]}

Foreign honours

Norway : Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (4.4.2000) ^{[citation needed]}
Spain : Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (2.12.1994)^[10]
Sweden : Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star (15.11.2022)^[11]

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^{[citation needed]}

References

^ "Statement from the Royal Hashemite Court". The Royal Hashemite Court. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
^ Business Optimization Consultants B.O.C. "The Hashemite Royal Family". Kinghussein.gov.jo. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2016. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
^ "The Hashemites". Jordanianroyals.tumblr.com. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
^ "His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Mohammad visits KADDB". Kaddb.com. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
^ "Biographie Princess Ghida Talal". Mtcc.it. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
^ [1] Archived 9 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine
^ Satloff, Robert (1999). From Hussein to Abdullah: Jordan in Tranistion. Washington DC: Washington Institute. p. 11.
^ "The national and regional role of Gendarmerie | Jordanian Gendarmerie". Jdf.gov.jo. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
^ Business Optimization Consultants B.O.C. "The Royal Court Offices". Kinghussein.gov.jo. Retrieved 8 August 2016. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "State visit to Jordan".

Royal titles
Preceded by Prince Muhammad bin Hashim	Line of succession to the Jordanian throne 14th position	Succeeded by Prince Hussein bin Talal

[1] "Statement from the Royal Hashemite Court". The Royal Hashemite Court. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.

[2] Business Optimization Consultants B.O.C. "The Hashemite Royal Family". Kinghussein.gov.jo. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2016. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)

[3] "The Hashemites". Jordanianroyals.tumblr.com. Retrieved 8 August 2016.

[4] "His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Mohammad visits KADDB". Kaddb.com. Retrieved 8 August 2016.

[5] "Biographie Princess Ghida Talal". Mtcc.it. Retrieved 8 August 2016.

[6] [1] Archived 9 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine

[7] Satloff, Robert (1999). From Hussein to Abdullah: Jordan in Tranistion. Washington DC: Washington Institute. p. 11.

[8] "The national and regional role of Gendarmerie | Jordanian Gendarmerie". Jdf.gov.jo. Retrieved 8 August 2016.

[9] Business Optimization Consultants B.O.C. "The Royal Court Offices". Kinghussein.gov.jo. Retrieved 8 August 2016. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)

[10] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[11] "State visit to Jordan".

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