Princess Ghida Talal

On the occasion of Jordan's Independence Day, 25 May 2012, the King Hussein Cancer Center and Foundation received the Kingdom's Medal of Independence in recognition of its work in the fight against cancer and for providing life-saving treatment to cancer patients in Jordan and the region.

King Abdullah II appointed Princess Ghida to represent Jordan as his special envoy at the United Nations General Assembly's High Level Meeting on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), held September 2011 in New York.

Princess Ghida remained active in other pursuits. In 2007, she played a vital role in the Iraq Scholar Rescue Project, an Institute of International Education (IIE), which aimed to rescue scholars from Iraq who were being persecuted. Princess Ghida helped find them safe havens at host universities across Europe, the U.S and the Middle East, in particular Jordan, until they were able to safely return to their home country. She was awarded IIE's Humanitarian Award for International Cooperation in 2008.

In 2001, King Abdullah II appointed Princess Ghida as full-time chairperson of the board of trustees of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation. The King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) is one of the most prominent comprehensive cancer centers in the Middle East that treats both adult and pediatric patients. KHCC treats over 4000 new cancer patients each year from Jordan and the region. It is equipped with state-of-the- art medical equipment and services, including 8 operating rooms and 170 beds. It houses 18 intensive care units, including 6 ICU specialized for pediatric care.

Princess Ghida moved to Jordan when she married Prince Talal bin Muhammad in 1991. The late King Hussein asked her to establish the International Press Office of the Royal Hashemite Court and she became the King's Press Secretary. In that capacity, she oversaw all press activities for the King and led a team of writers and press officers who covered the King's official activities. Princess Ghida also directed research projects and produced many political and economic publications about Jordan. She served as Press Secretary until King Hussein's death in 1999.

Ghida married Prince Talal bin Muhammad in 1991. The couple live in Jordan with their three children: Prince Hussein (born 1999) and twins Princess Raja'a and Prince Muhammad (born 2001).

Reported on the fall of Burj al Barajneh refugee camp, car bombings, inter-Shiite fighting and the hostage crisis. Covered the 1989 Lebanese presidential elections. Wrote political articles, feature stories, news analyses and political profiles.

Princess Ghida Talal (née Ghida Salaam; born 11 July 1963) is the chairperson of the board of trustees of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center (KHCF) and (KHCC), based in Amman, Jordan. Born to a politically prominent family in Lebanon, Princess Ghida is married to Prince Talal bin Muhammad of Jordan, the nephew of King Hussein bin Talal and 41st-generation direct descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Princess Ghida Talal was born 11 July 1963 in Beirut, Lebanon, to Hany Sala'am and Raja'a Arab. She is the eldest of four children. The Sala'am family is a politically prominent family in Lebanon. Her great-grandfather Salim Ali Sala'am was a leading political figure in Beirut at the turn of the 20th century and held numerous public positions, including deputy from Beirut to the Ottoman Parliament. Her great-uncle Saeb Salaam served as Prime Minister of Lebanon several times. Her paternal grandmother was a scion of the leading family of scholars from Jerusalem, the Khalidis.