Coronation of the Shah of Iran, 1967

The Shah of Iran crowned himself in a lavish ceremony in the Grand Hall of the Golestan Palace in Tehran on this day in 1967, exactly 50 years ago. On the Throne for 26 years, he had declared that he would not have a coronation and take up the ancient title of Shāhanshāh (King of Kings) “until he turned Iran into a prosperous and modernised nation.” In honour of the 50th Anniversary of the Coronation, we are taking a look at some of the scenes from the grand day-

The Shah arrived with his splendidly attired entourage, the guests at the sides bowing and curtsying.

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After everyone was seated, the regalia was carried up to the Throne. The Shah was also handed the Holy Quran by a mullah, kissing it piously before handing it back.

Afterwards, the Shah donned the ceremonial robes, and then crowned himself “His Imperial Majesty The Shāhanshāh of Iran” with the Pahlavi Crown, studded with 3,380 diamonds.

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Minutes later, the Shāhanshāh crowned his consort, Empress Farah, as “Her Imperial Majesty The Shāhbanu of Iran” with the Van Clef & Arpels Crown made specially for the occasion. She was the first Empress to be crowned in the 2,500 years of the Persian Empire.

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Following the Crowning ceremonies, the Shāhanshāh delivered a speech in farsi from his Throne.

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After the Coronation Ceremony, the Shāhanshāh, the Shāhbanu, and Crown Prince Reza walked in a grand procession out of the Golestan Palace, past the crowds of spectators.

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Later, the Shāhanshāh, the Shahbanu, and the Crown Prince rode in an opulent procession through the streets of Tehran, in the specially made Coronation Coach, a replica of the Austrian Imperial Carriage used by the Habsburgs, drawn by white Hungarian horses.

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The wore Uniform with thePahlavi Crown, the Sash, Star and Collar of the Order of Pahlavi, and his medals. Empress Farah wore a white silk gown with her Van Clef & Arpels Crown, large emerald necklace and earrings, and the Sash and Star of the Order of Aryamehr, also worn by the other imperial ladies, including her stepdaughter, Princess Shahnaz.

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One thought on “Coronation of the Shah of Iran, 1967

  1. Your last paragraph is incomplete. The sentence starts without its subject i.e. “The wore” etc…… and it should read “The Shah wore” etc.

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