Queen Noor of Jordan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Noor Queen Dowager of Jordan |
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Queen Noor in 2011
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| Queen consort of Jordan | |||||
| Reign | June 15, 1978 – February 7, 1999 | ||||
| Born | Lisa Najeeb Halaby August 23, 1951 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
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| Father | Najeeb Halaby | ||||
| Mother | Doris Carlquist | ||||
Noor Al Hussein (born Lisa Najeeb Halaby; August 23, 1951) is an American-born Jordanian queen. She is the fourth wife and widow of King Hussein of Jordan. She was the Queen of Jordan from June 15, 1978, until King Hussein's death on February 7, 1999.
Queen Noor is known for her work as a philanthropist and activist. She is a long-time member of the Board of Commissioners for the International Commission on Missing Persons. As of 2023, she leads the United World Colleges movement. She also supports the Global Zero campaign, which works to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. In 2015, Princeton University honored Queen Noor with the Woodrow Wilson Award for her public service.
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Queen Noor's Early Life and Family
Queen Noor was born Lisa Najeeb Halaby in Washington, D.C., USA. She is the oldest child of Najeeb Halaby (1915–2003) and Doris Carlquist (1918–2015). Her father's family came from Syria. Her mother's family was Swedish American.
Her father, Najeeb Halaby, was a Navy test pilot. He also worked as an airline executive and a government official. He was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to lead the Federal Aviation Administration. He also served as CEO of Pan American World Airways. Lisa had two younger siblings, Christian and Alexa. Her parents divorced in 1977.
Noor's paternal grandfather, Najeeb Elias Halaby, was a Syrian-Lebanese businessman. He was born in Zahle. His parents were from Aleppo. He worked as a petroleum broker. He also opened a rug and interior-decorating shop in Dallas, Texas.
Research shows that her great-grandfather, Elias Halaby, came to New York around 1891. He was one of the first Syrian-Lebanese immigrants to the United States. He was a Christian and a provincial treasurer. He left Syria with his two oldest sons. His wife and other children joined him in the US in 1894. He died three years later. His teenage sons, Habib and Najeeb (Noor's paternal grandfather), then ran his import business.
Education and Studies
Lisa Halaby went to schools in New York and California. She attended National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C.. She also studied at the Chapin School in New York City. She graduated from Concord Academy.
She then went to Princeton University. She was part of the first class that included both men and women. In 1974, she earned a degree in architecture and urban planning. She was also a member of Princeton's first women's ice hockey team.
Career Before Becoming Queen
After graduating from Princeton, Lisa Halaby moved to Australia. She worked for a company that planned new towns. She became very interested in the Middle East because of her Syrian family roots.
In 1975, she took a job with a British firm. They were designing a new city center in Tehran, Iran. When political problems grew, the company moved to the UK. Lisa then traveled to the Arab world. She decided to apply to Columbia University's journalism school. While waiting, she took a temporary job in Amman, Jordan. She worked on research for an aviation facility.
Later, she joined Alia Airlines. She became the Director of Facilities Planning and Design. During this time, she became friends with King Hussein. He was still mourning the death of his third wife. Their friendship grew, and they became engaged in 1978.
Marriage and Children
Lisa Halaby married King Hussein on June 15, 1978, in Amman. She became the Queen of Jordan. Before her marriage, she became a Sunni Muslim. She also changed her name from Lisa Halaby to Noor Al Hussein. This means "Light of Hussein." The wedding was a traditional Muslim ceremony.
Queen Noor took charge of the royal household. She also helped raise King Hussein's three children from his previous marriage: Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, and Abir Muhaisen.
Noor and Hussein had four children together:
- Prince Hamzah (born March 29, 1980). He was Crown Prince from 1999 to 2004. He has five daughters and two sons.
- Prince Hashim (born June 10, 1981). He has three daughters and two sons.
- Princess Iman (born April 24, 1983). She has one son.
- Princess Raiyah (born February 9, 1986).
Queen Noor's Work and Activities
Helping Jordan and the World
Queen Noor started the King Hussein Foundation (KHF) in 1979. This foundation includes the Noor Al Hussein Foundation. It also has eight special organizations. These groups work on things like education, health, and community development. They include the Jubilee Institute and the National Music Conservatory. She is also the Honorary Chairperson of JOrchestra. In 1980, Queen Noor also started the International Arab Youth Congress. This program helps young people.
Queen Noor's work around the world focuses on the environment. She looks at how environmental issues affect human safety. She pays special attention to water and ocean health. At the 2017 Our Ocean Conference, she spoke about how climate change affects oceans and people. Queen Noor supports many environmental groups. She is a Patron of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. She is also an Ocean Elder. She speaks Arabic, English, and French.
After King Hussein's Death
King Hussein passed away on February 7, 1999. He died from lymphatic cancer. After his death, his oldest son, Abdullah II, became king. Prince Hamzah, Queen Noor's son, became crown prince. However, in 2004, Prince Hamzah was no longer the heir. On July 2, 2009, King Abdullah named his own oldest son as the next in line to the throne.
Queen Noor now spends her time in Jordan, the US, and the United Kingdom. She continues to work with many international organizations. She enjoys activities like skiing, tennis, sailing, and reading. She also likes gardening and photography.
Honours and Awards
Honours from Jordan
Jordan:
Knight Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali
Knight of the Order of Military Glory
Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance
Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Star of Jordan
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Honours from Other Countries
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Austria:
Grand Star of the Order of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria
Brunei:
Member First Class of the Family Order of Laila Utama
Denmark:
Knight of the Order of the Elephant (1998)
Egypt:
Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of the Virtues
France:
Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour
Italy:
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Luxembourg:
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau
Spain:
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Sweden:
Member of the Royal Order of the Seraphim
United Kingdom:
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint John
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Awards
- 2001: Blessed are the Peacemakers Award from Catholic Theological Union
Books by Queen Noor
Queen Noor wrote a book called A Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life. It became a number one best seller on the New York Times list. It has been published in 17 languages.
See Also
In Spanish: Noor de Jordania para niños
- Hashemites
