7 - 13 February 2002
Issue No.572
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 7 - 13 February 2002 Issue No.572 |
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A splendid party indeed
Contrary to common perceptions of Farouk's private parties as being splendid affairs, Karim Thabet recalls His Majesty's birthday party in 1952 as being more of an ordeal
On the occasion of the king's birthday on 11 February 1952, Farouk and Nariman invited about 30 of their relatives and close friends to a luncheon on the royal yacht, Qased Kheir, which was anchored off Gezira opposite the Semiramis Hotel. Topping the guest list were the three sister princesses -- Fawziya, Faiza and Faiqa -- and their husbands. The guests had been told in advance that after the luncheon they were also invited to tea at Tahra Palace and then to dinner at the same venue.
Farouk
Nazli
Fouad
The commemorative stamp issued for the royal nuptials
However, instead of beginning at 1pm or 1.30, it was not until just before 3pm that Farouk ordered lunch to be served. Then, even after the meal had finished, Farouk did not allow his guests to leave until 5pm. Of course, the guests could not possibly go directly from the yacht to the tea party at the palace, so His Majesty said that they could go home first to change, on the condition that they arrive at Tahra Palace at precisely 7pm.
At 7.30 we had all reassembled in Tahra, with the exception of Farouk and Nariman. We were told they would appear at 8pm. Eight o'clock came and went, as did 8.30. When the clock struck 9pm, there was still no sign of the imminent arrival of the royal couple.
Finally, at 9.30 our hosts made their appearance. The two-hour wait had not brightened the mood of the guests, already fatigued by the day they had spent on the yacht, after which they had to rush to the palace without a moment's repose out of respect for the deadline set for their arrival.
Once Farouk and Nariman had greeted their guests and relaxed a little, Farouk ordered the doors to the dining hall to be opened. Finally, dinner was to be served and the guests were delighted -- not because they were hungry, but because that meant that the party would be over shortly after dinner.
The sense of relief lasted at most two minutes. As the guests entered the dining room, they discovered they were about to be served tea -- the tea postponed from five o'clock!
After tea, Farouk and Nariman repaired to the large reception hall, where they took up positions presiding over the room as the guests ranged themselves around them on either side. The usual frostiness prevailed. Farouk sensed this and ordered the entertainment to begin immediately.
As usual, when the oriental dancing part of the programme came, Farouk told the dancer to come down off the stage and "flirt" with such and such a person. Then he laughed, and a chuckle echoed him here and a giggle there.
After the show, the "orchestra" struck up dance music. Farouk got up. He danced first with Nariman then with one of the other women present. Then he sat down. Nariman too had a second dance, with Ilhami Hussein Pasha. Some of the other guests also took a turn or two around the floor. Then, all movement ceased, as though the band was playing to silent walls.
Farouk could not help but notice the exhaustion on the faces of most of his guests. He looked at his watch. Certainly, he was about to call the evening to an end. Instead he said, "Now it's time for dinner!"
It was back to the dining room. Farouk was the only person who ate. Everyone else only pretended to eat.
Then came the birthday cake. Farouk blew out the candles and all applauded. One person piped up with "Happy Birthday to You" but only two or three voices joined in. Everyone else was too far gone.
Farouk and Nariman returned to their seats in the reception hall. No more than two or three others followed them in. The rest of the guests crowded into the small anti-chamber between the dining room and reception room and stood there in a silent signal to Farouk that they would like permission to leave so they could return home to their beds.
The band struck up music again as though to liven the atmosphere. It didn't work. Dance songs played one after the other. Not a single foot stepped onto the dance floor.
Farouk looked over at the guests in the antechamber and asked them what the matter was. One guest ventured, "We're sleepy, Your Majesty, and tired."
Farouk pretended not to hear. He went on listening to the music for another quarter of an hour. Then he realised there was no point in being stubborn. The few guests in the room with him were still and silent and the rest assembled in the anti-chamber were equally still and silent. The music played on futilely to an empty dance floor. Then, Farouk stood up, as did Nariman after him. That was the signal that the "splendid" party was over.
Karim Thabet (d.1964) was a close aide to King Farouk and acted as his press counselor from1942. Above is an extract from his memoirs Farouk Kama 'Araftahu (Farouk as I Knew Him) , vol. 1, Cairo: Dar Al-Shorouk, 2000
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