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| The outgoing Emir of Qatar, addresses the nation. |
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| The new Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani. |
The new Emir, Sandhurst educated Sheikh Tamim, is the second son of Sheikh Hamad and his second wife Sheikha Moza having replaced his elder brother Sheikh Jassim as Heir Apparent in 2003.
His mother Sheikha Moza (yes, 'Moza' means banana in English) currently plays a very active role in public affairs here though whether that role will continue is as yet unknown. The transfer of power comes into effect immediately and today has been a public holiday, though the majority of the population did not know they had a day off until late last night.
This morning Sheikh Hamad addressed the public on tv and after that Sheikh Tamim, the new Emir, received a long line of representatives of the families, clans and tribes of Qatar who'd come to swear allegiance. The ceremony was shown in its entirety on local tv and will continue later this afternoon and again tomorrow.
The 'marriage 411' as a friend calls it is that the new Emir was born in 1980 and has two wives. He married his first wife, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim al-Thani, who's also his second cousin, when he was 18 and the couple has 4 children. He married his second wife, Anoud bint Mana Al-Hajri, in 2009 and they have two children. (Though the Arabic paper here says his first wife has 3 children and his second has 1.)
The 'marriage 411' as a friend calls it is that the new Emir was born in 1980 and has two wives. He married his first wife, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim al-Thani, who's also his second cousin, when he was 18 and the couple has 4 children. He married his second wife, Anoud bint Mana Al-Hajri, in 2009 and they have two children. (Though the Arabic paper here says his first wife has 3 children and his second has 1.)
