Persian Dinner at Persepolis, 1971

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Following the spectacular Banquet to celebrate the 2500th Anniversary of the Persian Empire, the Shah of Iran and Empress Farah hosted a traditional Persian Dinner in the Banquet Hall of the Tent City at Persepolis on this day in 1971 (50 years ago), called the most expensive party ever held in modern history. Royal attendees at the Grand Banquet included Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid of Denmark, King Olav V of Norway, King Constantine II, Queen Anne-Marie and Prince Michael of Greece, King Hussein, Princess Muna, and Princess Basma bint Talal of Jordan, King Mahendra and Queen Ratna of Nepal, King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium, the King and Queen of Malaysia, Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte of Luxembourg, Crown Prince Carl Gustav of Sweden, Prince Bernhard of the NetherlandsPrince Rainier III and Princess Grace of Monaco, Prince Franz Joseph and Princess Gina of Liechtenstein, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Anne, Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia of Spain, the Prince and Princess of Naples, the Begum Om Habibeh Aga Khan, Prince and Princess Mikasa, Prince Moulay Abdallah and Princess Lamia of Morocco, Prince Bhanubandhu Yugala of Thailand.

2500th Anniversary BanquetPersian Dinner in Persepolis

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Earlier that day, the Royal Guests had joined the Imperial Family for a spectacular Parade of soldiers in the ancient Persian dress and elaborate floats marking the 2500th Anniversary of the Persian Empire. The Parade was reminiscent of the Ceremony conducted by the Shah and Empress Farah (wearing her Seven Emerald Tiara) at the Tomb of Cyrus the Great a few days earlier.

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