As the new monarch, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi attempted to balance his father’s rigid vision with a softer, more diplomatic style of leadership. In his personal life, however, he struggled to find stability. His first marriage to Princess Fawzia of Egypt was arranged for political purposes, intended to strengthen ties between Tehran and Cairo. The union, however, was unhappy and short-lived. Cultural differences, emotional distance, and Fawzia’s discomfort with Iranian court life led to their eventual divorce in 1948, reflecting the ongoing tension between duty and personal happiness within the royal family.
