Monarchies Today - Royalty around the globe

Τετάρτη 19 Φεβρουαρίου 2025

DEATH AND SUCCESSION OF THE AGA KHAN

His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, The Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismai'li Muslim Community, died at the age of 88 on Tuesday, 4 February 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal. He was the 50th generation direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad, and inherited the Nizari imamat and title of Aga Khan from his grandfather in 1957, at the age of 20. Refered by his religious title Mawlānā Hazar Imam by his followers, and recognized as a titular royal by the British & Iranian monarchs, the Aga Khan used his influence, and extended wealth to forge a dialogue within the muslim religion and way of thought as well as a foundation & development network named after him, to assist the less privileged in countries across four continents, by investing in education, health, economic development, pluralism of mass media, and patronages for the arts & architecture. A billionaire & socialite, Prince Karim had several citizenships, including (British & Portuguese) and owned a series of real estate buildings, an island in the Bahamas, yachts, and race-horses, the breeding of whom made him famous among the high-profile British elites. His eldest son, Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini, was announced as his successor on February 5 (with the Imami title of Aga Khan V) and Prince Karim was laid to rest on February 9 in a Mausoleum built by his grandfather in Egypt, after a funeral ceremony the previous day at the Ismaili center of Lisbon. The new Imam was formally enthroned on February 11 in Lisbon.

Prince Karim Al-Hussaini was born on 13 December 1936 in Geneva, the eldest son of Prince Aly Khan & Princess Taj-ud dawlah (the British model Joan Yarde-Buller). He was raised in Nairobi, Kenya, and attended a boarding school (Institut Le Rosey) in Switzerland, after his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammed Shah (The Aga Khan III) vetoed his decision to enroll to Harvard University. On 11 July 1957, The Aga Khan III died, leaving a will that his grandson (who grew up into the new atomic age) and none of his two sons should succeed him as 49th Imam of the Nizairi Ismailis (who comprise an approximately 20% of Shia Muslims worldwide). The 20-year-old Prince Karim was installed on 19 October, and recognized as "His Highness" by Queen Elizabeth II (a tradition followed since the first Aga Khan) & as "His Royal Highness" by ShahanShah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (successor to the Qajar Shahs, who expelled the Ismaili Imams from Persia in the past). The Aga Khan eventually enrolled to Harvard & graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Islamic History in 1959. A keen sportsman & downhill skier, he represented Iran in the 1964 Winter Olympics (& Britain in FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 1962).

The Aga Khan IV entered a new approach into the Ismailist way of thinking, his material wealth never conflicting with the spiritual sacrity of his role. He established the Aga Khan Foundation in 1967, bringing together human, financial & technical resources to address the challenges of poverty & marginalization of communities around the world. The Aga Khan Development Network came later to bridge the agencies of Aga Khan's non-profit enterprise, together with national & international resources, aiming at the elimination of global poverty, promotion & implementation of pluralism, advanement of the status of women and honoring Islamic Art & Architecture. The network begun operating in the most vulnerable countries with a significant number of Nizari Ismailis (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan), before expanding its work to countries in East Africa, central Asia, The Middle East & elsewhere, as the members of the Nizari community settled to those regions and beyond to Europe, North America & Australia in recent decades. More than 200 schools & 700 health facilities have been established in the poorest countries of Asia & Africa, where the Network's annual budget was up to 1 billion US$, while some 96,000 people from those countries have been employed, and numerous volunteers helped to practically implement the Network's projects. And while The Aga Khan invested tens of millions of US$ in developing local economies, he never thought of it as an act of humanitarianism - but rather a duty as a privileged, spiritual leader of his community; which members feel the moral obligation to donate up to 12,5% of their income to the Imam, as their steward.

The fortune of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan was estimated as more than US$13,3 billion over a decade ago, making him one of the world's wealthiest royals (who was treated as Head of State). Part of his possesions were luxurious hotels in Europe & East Africa, fast cars, yachts & racehorses, including Shergar - the Irish-bred, winning horse of 1981 Epsom Debry, who was kidnapped in 1983 (probably by IRA) & never returned as the demanded ransom was refused to be paid. As Imam - & de-facto Monarch - the fourth Aga Khan sought for opportunities to turn challenges into chances for a global dialogue. He assisted the 1985 talks between Reagan & Gorbachev in Geneva, and constructively responded to global leaders' (including Pope Benedict XVI's) claims of islamic values being anachronistic & non-aligned to reason. He used his Silver (1982), Golden (2007) & Diamond (2017) Jubilees of Imamat to establish, finance and extend more his foundation's programs for health, education & faith, while in 1986 he introduced an universal constitution across the over 25 countries of Ismai'li diaspora (in four continents), amended in 1998. Prince Karim Aga Khan IV formally designated the Henrique de Mendonça Palace in Lisbon as The "Diwan (Seat/Court) of Ismaili Imamat" in July 2018, was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle for his Diamond Jubilee in March that year, while the Jubilee Games, organized ten years earlier (in 2008) have since became a regular form of cultural sport among Nizairi Ismailis. Furthermore, in 2006, His late Highness co-founded with the Canadian Government The Global Center for Pluralism, and funded an empire of Independent Media Columns operating in Eastern African countries (often) in the midst of (& sometimes beyond) iliberal government & dictatorships.

HH Prince Karim Aga Khan IV had been married twice; first, to (fashion model) Sarah Frances Croker Poole, who assumed the name Begum Salimah, from 1969 to 1995; and second to Gabriele Renate Thyssen (née Homey), who took the name Begum Inaara, from 1998 to 2011. He had four children (one daughter & three sons) in total and both of his marriages ended in divorce. His eldest son, Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini (b. 12 October 1971 in Geneva), was named his father's successor as the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, becoming the Aga Khan V, following the Unsealing of the late Imam's Will, announced Wednesday, 5 February, 2025, having succeeded him immediately upon his death in the evening of Tuesday, 4 February (2025). A direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad - through his daughter, Hazrat Bibi Fatima and cousin & son-in-law, Hazrat Ali (the fourth Caliph of Islam & first Shia Imam) - Rahim Aga Khan was educated in The US, obtaining a bachelor degree in comparative literature from Brown University (1995) and completing graduate studies in management & administration from IESE Business School, University of Navarra (Spain, 2006). He has been involved into the governance of The Aga Khan Developing Network (AKDN), boarding the executive committees of their agencies & affiliated structures, and overseeing its programs & other projects in person. Prince Rahim was married to Princess Salwa Aga Khan (née Kendra Irene Spears, a fashion model) from 2013 until their divorce in 2022; they have two sons, Prince Ifran & Prince Sinan.

The Funeral of Mawlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini, The late Aga Khan IV, took place over the weekend after his death. Members of the global Ismaili community assembled in Jamatkhanas (places of worship & gathering) to witness live streaming from the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon, where the funeral ceremony took place on Saturday, February 8 (2025) at 11:00am. The late Imam's casket, drapped in a white cloth with a gold-embroidered personal standard on it, was carried into the hall by Isma'ili community volunteers, for dignitaries & world leaders (including The King Emeritus of Spain, The Emir of Qatar, The President of Portugal & The Prime Minister of Canada) to pass by & pay their last respects, amid prayers & the recitation of blessings, invoked on Prophet Muhammad. Prince Rahim, The Aga Khan V, led the congregation, carrying his father's casket outside the center, with his two sons, siblings, uncle & other relatives watching over; before they all flew to Egypt, for a private burial in Aswan, on Sunday 9 February 2025. The region's government welcomed The Aga Khan's family in person & ordered the closure of roads to facilitate the dignified procession (following the funerary van on foot) towards the banks of the River Nile, to which he participated. From there the coffin of the late Prince Karim was transferred by boat to a private domain of Villa Nour El Salam. Then the casket was carried on hand in a final procession, on top of the hill where The Mausoleum, build by Aga Khan III is situated. The Aga Khan IV was laid to rest next to his grandparents, where he will remain buried, until a resting place dedicated to him, will be adjusted. Following the end of the burial, the Mayor symbolically presented The Aga Khan V with a key to the City of Aswan; Egypt was once the center of the Fatimid Caliphate, ruled by The Ismaili Imams-Caliphs (during the 10th - 11th centuries), who built its present-day capital, Cairo.

Following his ascension to the Ismai'li Imamate, Prince Rahim Aga Khan V was granted the style of: "His Highness" by King Charles III of The United Kingdom on Monday, 10 February, 2025. The next Day, Tuesday, February 11 (2025), the Takht-nishini, formal enthronement ceremony of Mawlana Shah Rahim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, took place at the Diwan of The Ismai'li Imamat in Lisbon, in presence of representatives of the global Jamat - Chair of The Ismaili Leaders' International Forum (LIF), while for the first time in history, ordinary people could see the live screening of the event from all Jamatkhanas, at 10:00am GMT. The Hazar Imam was first presented with the khilat (ceremonial robes) of his predecessor, alongside his chain & signet ring, as well as ceremonial symbols of authority - Holy Qur'an, Ismaili Constitution, ceremonial sword, intricate parasol & inkwell - all under the rendition of Nashid al-Imamah (The Ismaili Anthem). Then verses from The Holy Qur'an (including the prayer for the 'light' - ayat al-Nur) were recited, followed by renditions of two poems (qasidas & munajat) in four languages. Everyone rose as the LIF Chair gave his loyalty address on behalf of the global Jamat, before everyone of The Councils' Presidents in attendance submitted bay' a (oath of allegiance) to Mawlana Hazar Imam in turns. Then His Highness The Hazar Imam signed the Constitutional Instrument in his name, confirming his position as Imam-of-the-Time & reaffirming the preservation of the current Ismaili Constitution created by his late father. The ceremony was concluded by The Aga Khan's first address to the Jamat as its 50th hereditary Imam, during which Farman Mubarak he paid tribute to his father, thanked his family for the support, spoke on the the principles of Ismai'li Muslim faith, reminded on the spiritual & material values, set up his Imamate's goals and offered prayers for mushkil-asan. Finally, the leaders of the Jamat presented their 50th Imam with a commemorative gift, a manuscript (titled "Munajat Hazrat Ali Amir al-Mu'minin") encompassing a selection of prayers from the time of the First Imam, embroidered with a series of Perso-Arabesque guilded mottifs of flora & fauna. In the days after his Takht-nishini, HH Prince Rahim Aga Khan V received delegations of State & Community leaders offering both Condolences & Congratulations.

A message of graditude & reassurance by The Aga Khan V two weeks after becoming Imam, completed the whole process of The Transition of Mawlana Hazar Imam of The Nizairi Ismai'list Muslim Jamat.

Videos:

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vmlk4rzzjo

https://transition.ismaili/our-beloved-shah-karim

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/04/world/aga-khan-ismaili-muslim-obit-intl-latam/index.html

https://akf.org/article/in-memorium-his-highness-the-aga-khan/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/09/the-aga-khan-obituary

https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/whats-new/news-release/prince-rahim-aga-khan-v-named-50th-hereditary-imam-of-the-shia-ismaili-muslims

https://apnews.com/article/aga-khan-rahim-alhussaini-8efb5353df62fd6f452ca2935507483c

https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/whats-new/news-release/funeral-ceremony-for-aga-khan-iv

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/09/world/aga-khan-funeral-egypt-intl-latam/index.html

https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/whats-new/news-release/aga-khan-iv-laid-to-rest-in-aswan-egypt

https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2025-02-10/the-king-is-pleased-to-grant-the-new-aga-khan-the-title-his-highness

https://transition.ismaili/takht-nishini-diwan

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3ndgd6076o

https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/whats-new/news-release/his-highness-prince-rahim-aga-khan-meets-president-of-portugal

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/rahim-al-hussaini-named-as-50th-aga-khan-after-death-of-father

https://the.akdn/en/page/message-from-his-highness-the-aga-khan-february-18

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/citys-ismailis-celebrate-aga-khan-vs-rise/articleshow/118283146.cms

Δευτέρα 18 Νοεμβρίου 2024

Exceeded all the expectations: The longest-married & lived 'Imperial' Princess

Living a long lifespan is not unusual for the Japanese Imperial Family. But exceeding a century of life is an indeed remarkable record! And it's not an exaggeration to say that The Prince & Princess Mikasa set unprecedented records in both longevity and length of marriage. Their union of 75 years and 5 days is the longest recorded marital period of any blue-blooded couple in the history of all Monarchies. And their lifespans, more than 2 centuries combined; making them both the longest-living members of The Imperial House in at least the past 1 1/2 century of modern history. First Prince Takahito (1915 - 2016), who became the first imperial prince to reach his 100th birthday and died 11 months later; and then his widow Yuriko (1923 - 2024), who exceeded his age and made it to 101, before dying of "old age" last Friday. She was the last living member of The Imperial Family born during the Reign of (her father-in-law) Emperor Taisho (1912-1926) at the time of her death.

Yuriko Takagi (as is her maiden name) was born on 4 June 1923, as the second daughter of Viscount Masanari Takagi (a nobleman, entomolosist & member of the House of Peers) and Kuniko Irie. Through her father, Yuriko descended from feudal lords of Tan'nan Domain, her prominent ancestors including a roju (shogunal minister) from the final (Bakumatsu) years of Edo Period in Japan. Her mother also came from an elite clan (Yanagihara), being a great-niece of Lady Yanagiwara Naruko (a concubine of Meiji & mother to Taisho Emperor), which made her daughter and her future husband second cousins once removed.

Yuriko finished high-school in Gakushuin Women's Academy (designated for the elites) in 1941. On 29 March, at age just 17 it was announced that she would marry the youngest brother of The (Reigning) Emperor Hirohito, Prince Takahito, thus joining The Imperial Family. The engagement ceremony was scheduled for October 3, and the Wedding ceremony followed later on October 22. This was an arranged marriage, without an explanation or rehearsals for the 18-year-old bride, who would later recall she had been crying all the morning that day. Upon her marriage to Takahito, Yuriko joined his Household and became The Princess Mikasa.

Their Imperial Wedding took place during the second Sino-Japanese War and shortly before Japan attacked Pearl-Harbor (entering WWII), thus the celebrations were scaled back, and the newlyweds were not interviewed by the press, as expected. During the War Prince Mikasa served as a junior cavalry officer in the Army and The Princess managed the household and gave birth to their first child, Princess Yasuko, in 1944. A year later, in May 1945, a US air-raid burned down their residence in Akasaka Estate (Motoakasaka district, Tokyo), forcing the young family to spend the final months of the war in an air-raid shelter, with "unhygienic" conditions outside. As Princess Yuriko would recount in interviews for the authobiography of her late husband in 2022, The Prince was against the idea of extending the war any further at that point, and had a heated conversation with young officers, visiting their shelter, who persisted not to end it. The War eventually ended that August with Japanese surrender and The Emperor giving up all of his excecutive powers & divine status to this of a figurehead, with The Imperial Family affairs coming under direct control of The Government and all of its cadet branches abolished alongside the entire nobility.

After the war Prince Takahito enrolled to The University of Tokyo's Faculty of Letters to study history. Amid his busy schedule with engagements on behalf of The Imperial Family, he would borrow notes from fellow students when he missed the lessons. But it would be only thanks to his wife, that he could always have an effective transcription on hand. It was Princess Yuriko who stayed late into the night to prepare them, as she did with playing and changing the educational records of Chinese language that her husband studied from before the war. In the meantime, the Princely Couple welcomed four more children - Prince Tomohito, Prince Yoshihito, Princess Masako and Prince Norihito - and the young mother took care of their upbringing, amid hardships and financial instability their family that faced. The Prince Mikasa would write on their 70th wedding anniversary (2011) that despite coming from a noble family, The Princess (likely) endured "extraordinary" challenges to manage all their house affairs, adapting to the more demanding and busy life in the Imperial Family. Among those extraordinary hardships, Yuriko also faced the tragic loss of her father, who disappeared with a death note in July 1948, only to be found months later.

As the impacts of WWII gradually subsided, The Prince and Princess Mikasa made a joint effort into poetry, attending haiku gatherings. Under their shared, adopted pen name Yukari, they started writing haiku poems, and published a collection of their own, titled Hatsuyuki (First Snow). Prince Takahito followed the academic path after the war, becoming a scholar specialized on ancient oriental history, archaeology and semitic languages. Princess Yuriko would always accompany him into field research trips to Asia and The Middle Ease and would capture short films with an 8mm camera to use them in slide projection during her husband's lectures in Japanese and foreign universities & research centers. Moreover, Yuriko would join Takahito in international goodwill trips, promoting Japanese friendship with foreign nations, and on occasions like the 50th anniversary of the Japanese emigration to Brazil (1958) and the 2,500th founding anniversaries of Ceylon (1956) & The Persian Empire (1971).

Princess Yuriko became President of The Imperial Gift Foundation Boshi-Aiiku-Kai in 1948. She supported this association, promoting the health of mother and child, for 62 years until retiring in September 2010. For 32 years she had been President of The Cultural Foundation for promoting The National Custom of Japan. As its honorary President Her Imperial Highness suggested that individuals with significant achievements in dyeing techniques would be also honored (& awarded) for their efforts, such as those involved in the culture of kimono. The Princess also served as Honorary Vice-President of The Japanese Red Cross Society, and other organizations in a wide range of fields, such as sports, welfare & international friendships. She contributed to the global level promotion of ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement) as well.

Yuriko, The Princess Mikasa, was a doting mother to all of her five children, while she respected the genger-based status, dictating Princesses to leave The Imperial Family upon marriage to a commoner. Ahead of such a marriage by their eldest daughter Yasuko to Tadateru Konoe in 1966, Prince Mikasa was deeply concerned about this "toughest" separation for his wife and her loneliness afterwards. Her second daughter Masako would also leave the Imperial Family after marrying to Soshitsu Sen (XVI) in 1983, while her eldest and youngest son would retain their titles upon their Weddings in 1980 & 1984 (respectively). Their two younger sons would be able to establish their own households, with Yoshihito created as Prince Katsura (in 1988), and Norihito creation as Prince Takamado (upon marriage in 1984). Thus, after five decades of marriage, Takahito & Yuriko (a senior Imperial Couple following the 1989 Imperial Succession by their nephew, Akihito) were able to enjoy the birth of nine grandchildren, including five Imperial Princesses, none of whom could inherit their or their son's Household.

Takahito, The Prince Mikasa, was appointed as a foreign associate of the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles-lettres in 1991 and a Honorary Fellow of The School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) in 1994. Princess Yuriko, his wife of more than 50 years accompanied him on both occasions. In May 1999 Princess Mikasa was admitted to St. Luke's International Hospital (in Chuo, Tokyo) to have a pacemaker implanted due to her ischemic heart disease (angina), while in July 2007 she underwent a successful surgery for colon cancer. His Imperial Highness always stayed by her side despite her frailty and thanks to him "I have lived to this day" she would later addmit. The Imperial Couple will celebrate their Diamond (60th) anniversary party in Marunouchi, Tokyo in 2001, while ten years later (in 2011), they'll publish personal gratitude message to each other to mark their (Platinum) 70th Wedding anniversary. Prince Takahito would say that undoubtedly "it was my wife Yuriko who supported me publicly and privately for 70 years". Both of them won't have enough words to express how thankful they are to each other.

From the turn of the century, Their Imperial Highnesses would be stuck with deep grief all over their later life. In November 2002, their youngest child, Prince Takamado died aged 47 from a cardiac arrest after collapsing during a squash lesson at The Canadian Embassy in Tokyo. Ten years later, in June 2012, their eldest son (& heir of the household) Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, died at 66 due to cancer, followed by his ailing brother, Prince Katsura's death two years later (June 2014) at the same age (66), from a heart attack. Thus, Prince and Princess Mikasa outlived all of their sons, while at the same time they got to see their first grandchildren marry and raising their own children. Prince Mikasa turned 100 in December 2015, and passed away in October 2016, shortly after their 75th wedding anniversary, celebrated in his hospital bed. Princess Yuriko, who was always fond of her husband's photo from his youth, riding a horse, led the funeral of her "dignified" Prince and his household for eight more years.

In her later years, Princess Yuriko stayed relatively healthy, even though she used a wheelchair and was hospitalized for short periods for heart failure, arrythmia & Covid-19 in the early 2020s. She attended the historic Abdication of her nephew Emperor Emeritus Akihito in 2019, but missed the Enthronement of her great-nephew Emperor Naruhito six months later. At the age of 100 The Princess Mikasa could still enjoy her time reading newspapers, watching baseball games on TV & relaxing in the sun in the garden. As long as her health permitted she took care of her hair & nails at a patronized hairdresser. She was hospitalized in March 2024 due to a stroke & aspirational pneumonia, but remained stable (and out of ICU) for most of her last months, undergoing rehabilitation until her organism functions declined. Princess Yuriko had been surrounded by her Imperial daughters-in-law & granddaughters (three of whom are unmarried) in her final hours, and breathed her last at 6:32' on 15 November 2024, having just lost her consciousness from the previous day. At 101 she was the world's oldest living senior Royal.

Princess Yuriko's Funeral ("Renso-no-gi") is taking place on Tuesday, 26 November 2024 at 10.00am, at Toshomagaoka cemetery in (Bunkyo Ward) Tokyo, with her eldest granddaughter, Princess Akiko of Mikasa, acting as chief mourner. Her body was brought back to her residence (Akasaka Estate, Minato Ward, Tokyo) three hours after her death, visited by The Sovereign & Retired Imperial Couples to pay their respects (as per tradition, neither will attend the funeral). The first rites took place on Saturday (November 16), with Ofunairi (placing the body inside the casket) at 5pm, followed by Haiketsu (farewell ceremony) where members of The Imperial Family paid their last respects. The vigil will take place on November 24 & 25, participated by Yuriko's immediate family, of whom The Mikasa & Takamado household are observing 30 days of mourning. The rest of The Imperial Family had five days of mourning. The death of Princess Mikasa leaves 16 living members of The Imperial House, five of whom are men and three in line of succession to The Chrysanthemum throne. The Princess is survived by her two daughters (aged 80 & 73), sons & daughters-in-law, 8 grandchildren & at least 7 great-grandchildren.