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00:00:00 – 00:20:46
The video narrates the tumultuous and tragic love story of Queen Farida (born Safinaz Zulfikar) and King Farouk of Egypt, set against the opulent backdrop of Egypt's Royal Court. Farida's introduction to the royal family begins with her father's well-founded concerns over her young age and Farouk's reckless behavior. Despite this, Farouk's manipulative tactics force the marriage. Public excitement for the engagement is overshadowed by an ominous riot at the palace.
Post-wedding, Farouk’s true nature emerges, which includes infidelity, obsession with Mussolini and Italy’s machismo, and disappointment over the birth of daughters instead of a male heir. Farida faces harsh treatment from Farouk and his mother, Nazli Sabri, alongside societal scrutiny and unfounded scandalous rumors. Farouk's own indulgent and scandalous lifestyle ultimately damages their relationship and reputation, leading to further tension and public disdain.
Farida’s increasing paranoia and estrangement from Farouk eventually result in their divorce on November 17, 1948. Farouk’s subsequent brief marriage ends with his forced abdication in 1952 and his death in exile in 1965. Farida, transitioning into a life in the arts, remains a symbol of strength and resilience until her death from leukemia in 1988, marking her as a significant figure in Egypt's royal history.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, an enchanting yet tragic love story unfolds between Queen Farid and King Farooq of Egypt. Their tale begins in the golden corridors of Egypt’s Royal Court, highlighting Queen Farid’s transition from a life of privilege to becoming the “fairy tale queen.” Born Safinaz Zulfikar, Farid’s high-ranking family connections brought her into close proximity with royalty. At 15, she caught the eye of the newly crowned teenage King Farooq, leading to a rapid courtship orchestrated by royal intervention. The narrative sets the stage for how this seemingly perfect match eventually turned into one of the most toxic royal stories ever told.
00:03:00
In this segment of the video, Farida’s life takes a significant turn when the Dowager insists on her joining a family vacation to St. Moritz with the new king and his sisters, despite initial objections from her wealthy and influential parents. Following the trip, the king, Farouk, becomes infatuated with Farida and proposes marriage to the 15-year-old. Farida, not swayed entirely by the king’s lavish gifts, seeks her father’s opinion. Her father, Zulfakar, strongly advises against the marriage, deeming it a dangerous game with potentially life-altering consequences. As it turns out, Zulfakar’s concerns are valid, as Farouk, a lazy and spoiled teenager who failed his college entrance exams due to partying, wasn’t an ideal match. Furthermore, Farida was not his first choice; she became an option only after his first crush rejected him. This relationship, marked by Farouk’s attempt to rebound from rejection, became one of the most tragic royal romances, significantly impacting both their lives.
00:06:00
In this segment of the video, the narrator discusses the obstacles and manipulations surrounding Farid’s marriage proposal. Initially, Yusuf Zulfikar denies Farooq’s proposal due to Farid’s young age and need for more experience. Farooq responds by having Yusuf detained under false charges and then gives him an ultimatum, forcing Yusuf to consent to the marriage. Farooq then proposes to Farid on her 16th birthday, offering expensive dowries and changing her name to appeal to her, leading her to fall for him despite red flags. Their engagement generates public excitement but also results in a massive tragedy.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, a once-excited gathering outside the palace turns into a chaotic riot, leading to the tragic deaths of 22 people and countless injuries. This incident is viewed by many as an ominous sign for Egypt’s royal household. As the wedding day nears, Queen Farida’s excitement dims as King Farouk reveals his true, domineering nature, causing her distress. Despite her naturally sweet and yielding disposition, Farida faces his wrath when questioning his methods. Farouk’s obsession with Mussolini’s Italy and its machismo further concerns her. When their first child, Princess Ferial, is born instead of the anticipated male heir, Farouk is disappointed and shows disdain towards Farida. She is left to endure the harsh treatment from her mother-in-law, Nazli Sabri, leading to a bitter rivalry. However, Farida still hopes to give her husband the heir he desires and decides to try for another child a few years later.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, on April 7, 1940, celebrations erupted at Abdeen Palace in Cairo as Queen Farida gave birth to another baby girl, named Fawzia. King Farouk, who desperately wished for a male heir, showed clear disappointment and concern over perceptions of his masculinity. In a bid to resolve this, various concoctions were administered to the Queen, some with disturbing effects. King Farouk even consumed 600 oysters in a week to boost his libido.
This segment also addresses a scandal involving rumors of an affair between Queen Farida and a nobleman, Wahed Yusri, which damaged her reputation despite no proof. In contrast, King Farouk openly engaged in numerous affairs, including an unreciprocated obsession with Princess Fatima Tusuon. His fixation on the Princess led to schemes to expel Queen Farida from the palace. Additionally, his constant indulgence in partying reflected poorly on his responsibilities as king.
00:15:00
In this part of the video, tensions are highlighted surrounding Egypt’s King Farouk and his extravagant, public lifestyle, which displeased a struggling populace. While Farouk flaunted wealth and engaged in open infidelity, public sympathy leaned towards Queen Farida. To control her, Farouk cut off her allowance, forcing her to interact with a household manager she disliked. Farouk’s brazen conduct with mistresses embarrassed Farida, leading to significant public and private humiliation.
Scandal intensified when rumors emerged that Queen Farida might have had an affair with British painter Simon Elwes, enraging Farouk. Despite his own infidelity, Farouk could not tolerate her potential indiscretion and pursued Elwes until he fled Egypt. Amid these tensions, Farida became pregnant, sparking rumors of an illegitimate child. She gave birth to Princess Fadia on December 15, 1943, following which Farouk began threatening Farida, escalating the tumultuous situation further.
00:18:00
In this segment, the video discusses the increasing paranoia of Queen Farida due to her husband’s threats and her subsequent avoidance of palace food. It details the growing distance between Queen Farida and King Farouk, leading to their eventual divorce on November 17, 1948. This date coincidentally matched Princess Fawzia’s divorce. The segment mentions King Farouk’s damaged reputation following the divorce and his brief subsequent marriage to an 18-year-old girl named Narriman Sadek. Farouk finally had a son but was soon forced to abdicate the throne in 1952 and died in exile in 1965. Queen Farida, after the divorce, pursued a life in the arts and lived comfortably until her death from leukemia in 1988. She is remembered as a symbol of strength and resilience, and a key figure in Egypt’s royal history.