Of great joy and sadness

Concluding the saga of former empress of Iran Farah Diba

"I was then presented to Her Majesty Tadj ol-Molouk, the queen mother. Everyone knew what was going on, but the Shah was reflecting.

One day, he teased me: 'You have managed things so that I must take a quick decision, by saying you must return shortly to finish your studies in Paris.'

"I have forgotten some things, but certainly not the way he proposed to me. I shall never forget that scene. We were in Princess Shahnaz's salon, by the fireplace. The Shah and I were sitting on a small sofa. Gradually, the other people in the room began to leave and then Shahnaz left. My hand was resting on the sofa. The Shah began to play with my fingers and said; 'You know the story of my life: I was married once, twice; nevertheless, I believe we could live our lives together.'

"Of course, I had been expecting it. Straightaway, I said ' yes'. He added: 'I would like you to be someone who will stay by my side to support me and at the same time serve our country and assume responsibilities.'

"The countdown began. I went to Paris to buy my trousseau. I was on the front pages of the world's newspapers, I had to face the international press, deal with bodyguards and people chasing me. Traffic held up in the Champs Elysees to allow my car to escape from my followers. I had just turned 21, and a new page of my life - and what a page! - was about to begin.'

"On the day of my wedding, on my way to the Marmar Palace, people waved, applauded and smiled at me, and I did the same back. I was close to them. That day, I slowly went up the red-carpeted marble staircase of the palace, lined with two rows of little girls dressed in white tulle. A page scattered rose petals in front of me. Reza Shah Pahlavi awaited me at the top, dressed in the gala uniform of commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The ceremony was short and simple. The Shah described it in his memoirs. 'Following the Persian tradition, my betrothed said "yes" the third time she was asked if she wanted to become my wife. She accepted to look upon me. In this way, we became husband and wife, and that same night we presided over a great banquet and a brilliant reception in the minds of the oriental splendour of the old Golestan Palace. State affairs prevented us from going on our honeymoon that same night.'

"In February 1960, I went on my first official visit: I accompanied the Shah to Pakistan. As a newlywed, I was very much in the public eye. I was unaware of many points of protocol. Fortunately, I had been given a good education and I always asked the Shah what I had to do. He helped me a lot when I took my first steps into public life. I was told that this first official visit was like a final exam. I had never questioned this. I was just a newlywed in love, and completely happy. Everything seemed so natural.

"When Reza was born on October 30 1960, and 121 gunshots announced the birth of an heir to the country, I wept with joy. That same day, court physician Doctor Djahanshah Saleh told the 300 Iranian and foreign reporters who were waiting around the public hospital in the south of Tehran, where I had chosen to give birth, that continuity of the monarchy had been ensured by the birth of a beautiful boy who weighed 3.6 kilos. The news travelled to the four corners of the Earth. There was an explosion of joy in Iran.

"When, in 1967, the Shah placed the imperial crown upon my head, he wanted to tell the world that Iranian women had achieved a social position and were able to work, in the same way as men, towards progress of the country. He made me the first empress to be crowned in thousands of years, and with this highly symbolic gesture, he publicly displayed the trust he had placed in me.

"I believe my worst memory is the attempted coup that took place in the Marmar Palace against my husband, perpetrated by a young soldier who had been brainwashed. This man was on guard-in the guard of honour -in front of the palace. He lunged at the Shah as he left his car, but did not manage to reach him. He began to shoot in all directions and to run towards the palace. A servant who was about to close the door was wounded. The Shah's personal guard was inside, the ones we call the 'immortals' in memory of the loyal soldiers of Cyrus the Great. Two of these opened fire against the intruder. The crossfire was violent and two guards lost their lives during their brave intervention. Another also died.

"Although so long a time has passed, I still cannot understand our detractors, as we did so many positive things politically, economically and socially, and also to safeguard our cultural heritage, to defend traditional and contemporary artists. About ten museums were created at my initiative and several other projects which unfortunately never saw the light of day.

"Unfortunately, Iran then entered a dark age. So what did such a beautiful machine seize up? That's a question I cannot help but ask myself. There are many replies. But perhaps they should be sought outside Iran rather than inside."

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