The Woman Who Held a Princess

In the royal court, nurses and governesses held crucial roles, especially for young children. Leila’s nurse would have been responsible not just for physical care—feeding, bathing, monitoring her health—but also for emotional comfort and a sense of stability amid the often rigid and formal structures of palace life.

Farah Pahlavi was known to be a warm and attentive mother, but the role of the nurse provided Leila with a daily companion, someone deeply involved in her personal world—reading stories, accompanying her in gardens, and soothing her fears at night. In the private quarters of Niavaran Palace, the nurse would likely have served as both caregiver and confidante.

July 30, 2025 | 3:45 pm