The Egyptian Royal Family celebrated the Wedding of King Farouk of Egypt and 17-year-old Narriman Sadek at the Abdeen Palace in Cairo on this day in 1951, 75 years ago!
King Farouk of Egypt married 17-year-old Narriman Sadek at the Abdeen Palace in Cairo. The lavish wedding was held at a tumultuous time for the Egyptian Monarchy, and was the King’s second marriage, after he divorced Queen Farida for failing to produce a son.
Even though it was his second wedding, there was no way King Farouk was going small with the royal nuptials. His wedding to Queen Farida took place at Kubbeh Palace, the King’s more private residence. For his second bride, 17-year-old Narriman, the plan was to marry at Abdeen Palace, the official residence in the heart of Khedival Cairo.
Princess Fawzia arrived to pick up (now) Queen Narriman from her parents’ villa in Heliopolis and accompanied her to Abdeen Palace, where the wedding receptions would take place.
According to Queen Narriman’s memoirs, the gown could stand on the floor without a hanger because of all the embroidery. The memoirs also mention how difficult it was for the new queen to walk in this heavy dress and manage the train while keeping her head high.
Queen Narriman gave birth to a son the following year, who succeeded to the Throne as King Fuad II just months later, after the forced abdication of King Farouk, ruling for a year before the abolition of the Monarchy. King Farouk and Queen Narriman divorced in 1954.
