Prince Muhammad bin Talal

Prince Muhammad bin Talal of Jordan (born 2 October 1940) is the second son of King Talal of Jordan and is the younger brother of King Hussein of Jordan.

Prince Muhammad completed his primary schooling at the Islamic Scientific College in Amman and then attended the Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil in Switzerland. He then went to Bryanston College in the United Kingdom where he finished his secondary education. Between 1956 and 1957 he attended the Military Academy in Baghdad. In 1960 he earned his private pilot’s license.

Upon his return to Jordan in 1958, Prince Muhammad joined the Jordan Arab Army and served in the first Royal Guard Regiment before becoming Aide de Camp to King Hussein. Prince Muhammad was made Crown Prince of Jordan in 1952 when his elder brother Crown Prince Hussein became king. He held the post until 1962.

In 1971 he was appointed head of the council of tribal chiefs by King Hussein. In 1973, a royal decree invested him as the personal representative of King Hussein. He then headed the supreme committee for tourism in Jordan. He also served as regent and as head of the regency council on numerous occasions in the absence of the King. He holds the honorary rank of full general in the Jordanian Armed Forces as well as many high decorations from Jordan and other countries.

National Honours

• Grand Cordon of the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali w/ Collar of Jordan
• Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (special class) of Jordan
• Grand Cordon of the Order of Independence (Jordan)
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Star of Jordan
• Long Service Medal
• Good Conduct Medal
• King Hussein Silver Jubilee Medal-1977
• 1967–1971 Service Medal-1971
• Honorary President of the Royal Jordanian Chess Federation
• Honorary President of the Jordanian Shooting Federation
• Honorary President of the British Federation of Kyokushinkai Karate holding a first Dan and honorary fifth Dan in that martial art.

Foreign Honours

•  Denmark : Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog
•  Ethiopian Empire : Grand Cross of the Order of the Queen of Sheba
•  France : Grand Cross of the Order of National Merit
•  Italy : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic - 26/11/1983
•  Japan : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun - 1978
•  Malaysia : Honorary Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm - 24/4/1965
•  Morocco : Grand Cordon of the Order of Muhammad
•  Saudi Arabia : Order of Abdulaziz al Saud
•  Taiwan : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Brilliant Star of Taiwan
•  United Kingdom : Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) - 1984

• Quirinal
• "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1965." (PDF). 

Prince Muhammad first married Firyal Irshaid in 1964. They had two sons: Prince Talal (born 26 July 1965) and Prince Ghazi (born 15 October 1966). Their marriage ended in divorce. He later married Taghrid Majali, daughter of the late Hazza' al-Majali, Prime Minister of Jordan, on 28 June 1981. Prince Muhammad and Princess Taghrid along with Taghrid's mother, Samiha Al Fayez, reside now in Al Manal Palace. He also practices and promotes various sports including karate, chess, shooting and hunting.