Queen Noor Celebrates her 60th Birthday

Queen Noor Al Hussein of Jordan turns 60 today. Her Majesty was born Elisabeth (Lisa) Najeeb Halaby on August 23, 1951 in Washington DC. She is the oldest daughter of Najeeb Halaby and Doris Carlquist.

After receiving a B.A. in Architecture and Urban Planning from Princeton University in 1974, she worked on international urban planning and design projects in Australia, the United States, Iran and Jordan, where she met the late King Hussein I. After a short courtship, they announced their engagement in May 1978.

Before the wedding, Lisa converted to Islam and the late King Hussein chose for her the name of Noor Al Hussein (the light of Hussein). On June 15, 1978 the King and Lisa married in a traditional Islamic ceremony at Zahran Palace in Amman.

Queen Noor’s work in Jordan and the Arab world has focused on national and regional human security issues in the areas of education, conservation, sustainable development, human rights and cross-cultural understanding. She is also actively involved with international and UN organizations that address global challenges in these fields.

Her Majesty has four children: Prince Hamzah (b. 1980), Prince Hashim (b. 1981), Princess Iman (b. 1983) and Princess Raiyah (b. 1986). Queen Noor has three granddaughters: Princess Hala Al Noor bint Hashim (b. 2007), Princess Haya bint Hamzah (b. 2007) and Princess Raiyah Al Noor bint Hashim (b. 2008).

Following King Hussein’s death on February 7, 1999, the Queen now lives between Jordan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Filed under Jordan
Tagged Biography, Birthday, Queen Noor al-Hussein of Jordan.

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