Accessibility links

Subscribe
All RFE/RL sites
site logo site logo
Previous Next
Breaking News
Iran

In Photos: The Extraordinary Life Of Farah Pahlavi, The Last Empress Of Iran

A colorful character who was known as the Jackie Kennedy of the Middle East, she remains popular among Iranians for the work she did for the arts and culture in Iran.

Her first memoirs, originally published in 1977 in French, are due to be republished this November in English.

Now aged 83, she divides her time between the United States and France.
Empress Farah, wife of the shah of Iran, is pictured wearing her crown as she waves to crowds while driving through the streets of Tehran following their coronation ceremony on October 26, 1967. 
1 Empress Farah, wife of the shah of Iran, is pictured wearing her crown as she waves to crowds while driving through the streets of Tehran following their coronation ceremony on October 26, 1967. 
The shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and his wife, Farah (née Diba), are photographed during their wedding ceremony in Tehran on December 21, 1959. 
2 The shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and his wife, Farah (née Diba), are photographed during their wedding ceremony in Tehran on December 21, 1959. 
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of the United Kingdom pose with the shah and his wife, Farah, during their state visit to Iran in March 1961. 
3 Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of the United Kingdom pose with the shah and his wife, Farah, during their state visit to Iran in March 1961. 
U.S. first lady Jacqueline Kennedy gives a guided tour of the White House grounds to Empress Farah in Washington in April 1962. Kennedy leads her daughter Caroline's pony, Macaroni, which had been nuzzling the empress, attracted by the daffodils she was carrying. In the background is the first lady's press secretary, Pamela Turnure. 
4 U.S. first lady Jacqueline Kennedy gives a guided tour of the White House grounds to Empress Farah in Washington in April 1962. Kennedy leads her daughter Caroline's pony, Macaroni, which had been nuzzling the empress, attracted by the daffodils she was carrying. In the background is the first lady's press secretary, Pamela Turnure. 
Empress Farah with her children, Prince Raza and Princess Farahnaz, in Tehran in 1963.
5 Empress Farah with her children, Prince Raza and Princess Farahnaz, in Tehran in 1963.
Empress Farah leaves the Marble Palace in Tehran in October 1967 for the coronation procession to the Golestan Palace. Her husband watches from the doorway.
6 Empress Farah leaves the Marble Palace in Tehran in October 1967 for the coronation procession to the Golestan Palace. Her husband watches from the doorway.
A family portrait taken in October 1967 after the coronation ceremony. Princess Shahnaz Pahlavi (left), Princess Farahnaz Pahlavi (second from left), Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (center), Prince Ali Reza Pahlavi (second from right), and Empress Farah (right).
7 A family portrait taken in October 1967 after the coronation ceremony. Princess Shahnaz Pahlavi (left), Princess Farahnaz Pahlavi (second from left), Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (center), Prince Ali Reza Pahlavi (second from right), and Empress Farah (right).
Empress Farah wearing her crown in Tehran in 1970.
8 Empress Farah wearing her crown in Tehran in 1970.
Romanian communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu visits Iran in October 1971. Ceausescu (left) shakes the hand of the shah. Empress Farah is on the right. 
9 Romanian communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu visits Iran in October 1971. Ceausescu (left) shakes the hand of the shah. Empress Farah is on the right. 
The shah and Empress Farah with President Richard M. Nixon and Mrs. Pat Nixon on a White House balcony in Washington, D.C. in July 1973. 
10 The shah and Empress Farah with President Richard M. Nixon and Mrs. Pat Nixon on a White House balcony in Washington, D.C. in July 1973. 
The shah and Empress Farah visit Versailles, near Paris, in June 1974.
11 The shah and Empress Farah visit Versailles, near Paris, in June 1974.
The shah and Empress Farah make their way to board a plane at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran as they flee the country amid the tumult of the Iranian Revolution in January 1979.
12 The shah and Empress Farah make their way to board a plane at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran as they flee the country amid the tumult of the Iranian Revolution in January 1979.
The deposed shah and Farah pose for a photographer in Marrakesh, Morocco, a few days after fleeing Iran in January 1979.
13 The deposed shah and Farah pose for a photographer in Marrakesh, Morocco, a few days after fleeing Iran in January 1979.
The shah with his children and Farah vacationing in the Bahamas in March 1979. 
14 The shah with his children and Farah vacationing in the Bahamas in March 1979. 
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat (second from right) with the shah (left), Empress Farah (right), and Sadat's wife, Jihan, at a residence north of Cairo in April 1980.
15 Egyptian President Anwar Sadat (second from right) with the shah (left), Empress Farah (right), and Sadat's wife, Jihan, at a residence north of Cairo in April 1980.
Bernadette Chirac, the wife of French President Jacques Chirac (left), Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco (second from left), Children's Foundation President Anne-Aymone Giscard d'Estaing (center), Princess Mathilde of Belgium (second from right), and former Iranian Empress Farah Pahlavi (right) pose as they arrive at the Palace of Versailles in France to attend a charity gala in December 2003.
16 Bernadette Chirac, the wife of French President Jacques Chirac (left), Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco (second from left), Children's Foundation President Anne-Aymone Giscard d'Estaing (center), Princess Mathilde of Belgium (second from right), and former Iranian Empress Farah Pahlavi (right) pose as they arrive at the Palace of Versailles in France to attend a charity gala in December 2003.
Farah signs an autograph as she visits a contemporary art fair in Monaco in April 2013. 
17 Farah signs an autograph as she visits a contemporary art fair in Monaco in April 2013. 
Iran's former Empress Farah arrives to attend a church service for French ex-President Jacques Chirac at the Saint-Sulpice church in Paris shortly after his death in September 2019. 
18 Iran's former Empress Farah arrives to attend a church service for French ex-President Jacques Chirac at the Saint-Sulpice church in Paris shortly after his death in September 2019. 
16x9 Image

RFE/RL

RFE/RL journalists report the news in 27 languages in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

Recommended

​
XS
SM
MD
LG