. SS: Al Maktoum is a very lucky chap in that Princess Haya is known to be a perfectly delightful person. Hardly surprising given that she is the daughter of the late great King Hussein of Jordan who shall, till my dying day, remain one of the greatest role models in my life. The entire family are an astonishing assembly of well-natured people.
There are a number of influential Muslims, several of whom I have consulted for, who have taken European spouses or who have married those who, much like themselves, are predisposed to elements of 'modern' culture as a result of having been educated in the West. Among such circles various forms of tolerance tend to be more in evidence and could perhaps be described as
Islamic-lite although this is less to do with religion and more to do with flexible social protocols.
Yes, the loss of Princess Haya's mother was tragic indeed. She was returning from having visited an orphanage which she supported when the aircraft apparently ran into foul weather. The accident happened on 9th February 1977.
Princess Haya's mother, Egyptian born Queen Alia
Haya's father, the late great King Hussein of Jordan. A truly special and wonderful human being who, like many great people, loved helicopters 