At first, Fawzia’s brother, King Farouk, was resistant to the Shah’s attempts to win his approval for a union. In fact, he only agreed to the match after pressure from his advisors, who saw in it an attempt to secure Egypt’s position in the region. The couple met just once before their wedding day, which was at the Abdeen Palace in Cairo on 15 March 1939. It was a lavish ceremony – something of a signature from Farouk, who was known for his love of grand displays of wealth – with a 20-course meal.
