Shams Pahlavi’s legacy, while not as widely discussed as her brother Mohammad Reza’s or other members of the royal family, is an important part of understanding the intricacies of the Pahlavi era and the dramatic changes that transpired in during the 20th century. She was a representative of the royal family at a time when the monarchy was a symbol of modernization, Westernization, and, for many, the hope of a more prosperous future. Yet, her life also reflects the complex and often painful personal and political struggles that came with that status.
