Earlier this month I got an email from Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi's [1] webmaster & secretary inviting me to assist to an annual Paris ceremony in remembrance of her late daughter Princess Leila [2] (March 27, 1970 - June 10, 2001) which was followed by a more relaxed reunion in a Hotel lounge and drawing room for all who were kind enough to attend the gathering at the Passy Cemetery nearby the Trocadero. The invitation was really an unexpected one for me even if I knew that she did read them since I saw some of them (in relation to our Royal History) linked to her official website [3].

It was the very first time I personally assisted this simple ceremony in memory of the late princess. Although I am not nostalgic or particularly fond of reminiscing on sad events, I was nevertheless truly honored to be able not only pay my respects to the lovely and lonely princess Leila whose tomb was flowered by family, friends and loyal fans of the Royal family but also to have the pleasure of meeting Her Majesty in person for the very First Time all the more that  I learned that she appreciated my articles on culture and films in general and that she wished to meet me given that I live in Paris. 

What impressed me most was her simplicity and kindness that so characterizes her personality. She had a thought and kind look for Every person who wanted to meet her during and after the ceremony. I can tell you now that being a Queen even a former Queen is a FULL TIME JOB, she hardly took the time to rest or drink a glass of water and it well lasted at least 2 to 3 hours after the ceremony.

Our meeting was brief but warm and I took the oppurtunity to offer her an old Italian magazine from 1959 with a beautiful lithographic painting of her and her late husband the Shah which was published for her wedding. I also showed her two photos of myself and my siblings Cyrus and Sylvie-Roya with my late Father Dr. Kioumarz-Ruhollah KADIVAR when we lived in Shiraz. The photo was taken in October 1971 which corresponded to my Sister and brother's birthday month and on that particular day ( or week) we were dressed as our Persian Ancestors. My Sister looked like she was about to fall asleep while my brother and I were fooling around.  ;0)

The Shahbanou was very pleased and we laughed and exchanged some kind words after which she had to greet some other guests.

I Hope I will have the oppurtunity to meet her again in less formal circumstances for an interview in the future.

In anycase I wanted to also dedicate the following song from the Musical Camelot [4] to that special reunion and to Her in particular. I sure did feel for a Brief and Shining Moment that I was Sir Lancelot.

THANK YOU YOUR MAJESTY !

Darius KADIVAR

CAMELOTLyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Music by Ken Darby, Frederick Loewe

A law was made a distant moon ago here:
July and August cannot be too hot.
And there's a legal limit to the snow here
In Camelot.
The winter is forbidden till December
And exits March the second on the dot.
By order, summer lingers through September
In Camelot.
Camelot! Camelot!
I know it sounds a bit bizarre,
But in Camelot, Camelot
That's how conditions are.
The rain may never fall till after sundown.
By eight, the morning fog must disappear.
In short, there's simply not
A more congenial spot
For happily-ever-aftering than here
In Camelot.

Camelot! Camelot!
I know it gives a person pause,
But in Camelot, Camelot
Those are the legal laws.
The snow may never slush upon the hillside.
By nine p.m. the moonlight must appear.
In short, there's simply not
A more congenial spot
For happily-ever-aftering than here
In Camelot.

TOM:
Camelot! Camelot!

ARTHUR:
Yes, Camelot, my boy!
Where once it never rained till after sundown,
By eight a.m. the morning fog had flown...
Don't let it be forgot
That once there was a spot
For one brief shining moment that was known
As Camelot.

And Sir Lancelot ( Franco Nero) sings C’est Moi [6]