HRH Princess Ghida Talal

As the founding Chairperson of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF) and Center (KHCC), Her Royal Highness Princess Ghida Talal of Jordan oversees the lifesaving work of a leading internationally-accredited cancer center which has treated over 70,000 patients since its founding. Under Princess Ghida’s leadership, KHCF/KHCC have changed the landscape of cancer in Jordan, growing into Jordan’s largest charitable organization, pioneering life-saving awareness and early detection efforts in Jordan, and becoming a national and regional reference for oncologic training and capacity-building.

A longtime advocate of Arab cancer research, Princess Ghida established the King Hussein Award for Cancer Research in 2020, with the goal of strengthening cancer research efforts focused on the Arab world. She also prioritizes raising awareness around mental health, especially for cancer patients and their families, and ensuring universal cancer coverage in Jordan through KHCF’s Cancer Care Insurance program. Princess Ghida’s international advocacy work includes representing Jordan in 2011 and 2018 at the United Nations, and addressing the UN General Assembly’s High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

A graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Princess Ghida serves on the Board its Master of Science in Foreign Service program, and previously served for two terms on its Board of Regents. She holds the title of honorary trustee of the Board of the Institute of International Education, which she first joined in October 2013. Princess Ghida helped launch IIE’s Iraq Scholar Rescue Project to secure academic placements for persecuted scholars from Iraq in Jordan and other neighboring countries, and her efforts in this initiative earned her IIE’s Humanitarian Award for International Cooperation in 2008.

Princess Ghida was born Ghida Salaam to a leading political family in Lebanon. Prior to her work in the fight against cancer, Princess Ghida pursued a career in journalism. She married HRH Prince Talal Bin Muhammad of Jordan in 1991, and Jordan’s late King Hussein asked her to establish the International Press Office of the Royal Hashemite Court and to become his Press Secretary.

Princess Ghida resides in Jordan with her husband Prince Talal and their three children: Prince Hussein (born 1999) and twins Princess Rajaa and Prince Muhammad (born 2001).

To know more, www.princessghida.jo