Her Highness Princess Badriya Al Sabah in Lebanon

A noble lady — quiet humanitarian work — ancient Arab character — culture and sincerity.

President Abdel Nasser said of her: “A woman of great standing and fine qualities.”

There arrived in Lebanon during this month Her Highness Princess Badriya Al Salem Al Sabah, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in Kuwait — on her way home to her country, returning from Europe after a journey of three months, she and her husband His Highness Sheikh Fahd Al Sabah, Minister of Public Works and Health. In its course she visited the hospitals and health institutions of Europe, carrying back from them to Kuwait the most modern technical equipment, the finest methods of treatment, of X-ray photography, and of surgery that the West has attained, so that in Kuwait's hospitals European medical science is joined to the Eastern, humane, Arab spirit — a spirit that has made Kuwait's hospitals a model held up for cleanliness and good doctoring, securing for the patient, from whatever country he may be, in Kuwait, all the costs and means of treatment free of charge, in a form of complete health insurance known in no other Arab country.

The doors of Kuwait's hospitals open wide to Lebanese doctors and nurses, who work there by the dozens under her care and her solicitude, meeting from her honor, kind treatment, encouragement, and generous hospitality, their rights secured, their claims guaranteed, their learning and their labors respected.

President Abdel Nasser's testimonial: “great standing... beautiful qualities”

Perhaps the clearest proof of the nobility and eminence of this woman is the precious testimonial sent to her by Gamal Abdel Nasser together with the Egyptian Order of Merit of the first class, and with a patent in which the Egyptian President said, in these very words:

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate

The Republic of Egypt

From the President of the Republic, Gamal Abdel Nasser,

To Her Highness Princess Badriya, consort of His Highness Emir Fahd al-Mubarak Al Sabah and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in Kuwait.

Having taken cognizance of the great standing enjoyed by Your gracious Highness, and in appreciation of your person and the beauty of its qualities, we have resolved to grant you the treasured patent of the first class.

And we beseech God to preserve Your Highness.

Done at the Palace of the Republic in Cairo on the sixteenth day of the month of Dhu al-Hijja in the year 1378 of the Hijra, corresponding to June 22, 1959 of the Christian era.

And Princess Badriya, with all her standing and far-reaching influence, wished to

The Princess's visit to Lebanon is not her first. Her Highness has chosen Lebanon as her permanent summer resort; she has built herself a residence on one of its hills, and in the gentleness of its society she has formed, with a chosen circle of its people, a friendship — a friendship of honor, of esteem, and of fidelity.

Eastern Elegance

She is, besides, a most elegant princess, adorned with the loveliest adornment of the strong woman to whom life has given, and who has known how to prize the gift and to display it well, in an attractive frame and a noble bearing.

A Rare Woman

We do not exaggerate when we say that Princess Badriya Al Sabah is today one of the rare women of the Arabs, whose standing has entered the modern history of the Arab woman under the most prominent of headings.

The First Woman

She is the first Arab woman to take up the duties of an “undersecretary of ministry.”

Wealth and rank have not spoiled her, nor have honors and riches corrupted her nature; she has remained quiet in her sincerity, loving in her gentleness, humble however much the praise has multiplied and the tongues of the eulogists have sung.

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Clarity of mind, and a burning intellect; and with all her greatness of soul and her wealth, she is the very gentle woman who is abashed to be talked about, or to have the story of good works in the story of her life retold.

No condescension — her soul is above condescension; no vanity — her spirit is higher than vanity; no pride — her nature, in its loftiness, stands above all pride.

A generous womanliness that gives work an attractive spirit and pours into it a continuous, ascending life, resting on refinement of taste, quickness of wit, generosity of soul, and pleasantness of company.

Lebanese Nationality

She is the first of the Arab princesses to insist that one of her sons, “Mubarak,” a child of two, should carry Lebanese nationality — out of her faith that Lebanon is a land of goodness, and that to belong to it in spirit and in nationality is to belong to a land exalted and ennobled in its slopes and its mountains.

The Welcome of the Lebanese Press

The beautiful thing about the welcome is that hardly had word of her coming to Lebanon arrived when the Lebanese papers, of every political stripe, received her with open arms, singing of her character, praising her excellent qualities, and appreciating the honorable stand she takes toward the Lebanese doctors and nurses working in Kuwait under her care and supervision — pointing, too, to her many journeys in the East and the West — Japan — China — Europe — America — from which she gleans for her country the finest advanced, scientific methods of health.

The Program of the Lebanese Ministry of Health

The Lebanese Ministry of Health has drawn up a special program for her visit, in which she will tour Lebanese hospitals, pharmacies, and laboratories, and strengthen between Kuwait and Lebanon the bonds of sound cooperation.

The Woman's Voice, which has before now introduced Her Highness the Princess to its readers, and which counts her a sincere supporter, is pleased to welcome her most warmly and to wish her a stay in Lebanon of the utmost welcome and ease.

Our greetings to Her Highness's little Lebanese “Mubarak,” who, perfumed in the fragrance of Lebanon, is a new Lebanese, binding hearts together, strengthening ties, and increasing affection and brotherhood between the two Arab countries.