Sheikha Moza bint Nasser swept her imperial elegance, as we saw at the latest 'royal' wedding in Jordan. Besides, she's bought half of London.
Neither the bride, dressed as Elie Saab nor the godmother, Rania of Jordan, could compare with the sheikha of Qatar Moza bint Nasser at the last big 'royal' wedding. The Qatari aristocrat walked around, imperious, a priceless coat from the Valentino archive (from the 1989 Haute Couture collection, specifically) inspired by the Viennese architect Josef Hoffman and, later, a lemon green dress from the same firm that struck down the looks of all the queens present. It was a show of brutal power.
Sheikha Moza bint Nasser enters the salons of the world as Putin must storm meetings of the Russian Duma: as a steamroller of style. At 63 years old and without an official agenda that motivates a follow-up at her fingertips, she accumulates more than a million followers on her Instagram account. Haute couture is its homeland of it, but its power of it goes far beyond the archive of couture legends.
It must be clarified that the title of sheikha with which Moza bint Nasser is usually identified is entirely media-related, since in reality she is the second wife of the father of the current emir (who had three) and the first consort to be seen in public. Under her influence in the palace, Qatar passed laws that have advanced women's rights: the right to vote, the right to run in elections, and the right to equal pay.
The Sheikha of Qatar Moza bint Nasser was married to the Emir of Qatar for 27 years and had seven children, one of them the current Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Throughout almost three decades, she supported all kinds of initiatives for the advancement of women, encouraged the use of fashion to raise awareness of sustainability, and was also dedicated to young people. Her prominence in the social life of the country was such that she was nicknamed Princess Grace of the Arab world.
Obviously, we are dealing with a woman capable of exerting her influence even in the most adverse conditions, where custom and religious institutions are opposed to equality. As we saw in Jordan, the Sheikha of Qatar Moza bint Nasser knew how to use all the weapons at her disposal to accumulate power, beginning with the ascendancy of beauty and elegance, two unquestionable qualities in any woman. Important: without the help of any stylist.
"My style is based on respecting tradition and, at the same time, breathing modernity and being practical," Sheikha Moza bint Nasser has confessed in several interviews. «I don't have a stylist because I find it impossible to find a person who understands what I'm looking for. Also, fashion relaxes me. When I'm exhausted, I go into my dressing room and try on clothes."
The wealth of the Sheikha of Qatar is incalculable
The sheikha of Qatar's imposing looks cannot hide, however, her university credentials: a degree in sociology, a master's degree in Public Policy, an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, and an Honorary Doctorate from Georgetown University. Her training is no less than her nose for business: she has become, property by property, the most powerful woman in London.
Moza bint Nasser owns more property in the financial capital of Europe than King Charles III himself. In reality, the sheikha of Qatar participates in the incalculable investments of the Al Thani family that, evidently, affect one of the most luxurious and bullish real estate markets in the world. She owns, for example, the iconic Harrods department store, which belonged to the Al Fayeds until 2010.
Buildings such as the Shard, the tallest skyscraper in Europe, and the work of Renzo Piano, are also counted as owned by Qatari investment funds associated with the royal family. The Olympic Village, built for the 2012 Olympics, is also his. Same with the US embassy building, in Grosvenor Square, part of Camden Market, half the most expensive apartment block in the world (in Hyde Park), and Chelsie Barracks, luxury-ready land in Belgravia.
The state of Qatar or, what is the same, the Qatari royal family owns 8% of what moves on the London stock market, an amount similar to that governed by Barclays Bank. Sheikha Mozar bin Nasser has been pointed out, however, as directly responsible for the entry of the Al Thani family's investments in fashion. Mayhoola Group, her investment fund, owns Balmain, Valentino, and Pal Zileri.
Don't miss out on a residential acquisition for the Sheikha of Qatar and her son, three adjoining Regency-era buildings with imposing Greco-Roman style and views of Regent's Park. They were reformed to build a large mansion that is counted as the most expensive private house in the United Kingdom. With plenty of room to accommodate the entire Al Thani family.
