Her Royal Highness Princess Ghida Talal is one of the prominent Arab leaders advocating for health equality and ensuring fair care for cancer patients.
Princess Ghida was born in Lebanon, and her character was shaped by the resilience she acquired during the Lebanese Civil War, which instilled in her a deep sense of responsibility. After earning a Bachelor’s degree with honors in International Politics and Economics from Georgetown University, she began her career in international journalism, working as a correspondent for major agencies such as Reuters, ABC News, and the Financial Times, covering conflict zones worldwide, before serving as the press officer for King Hussein bin Talal, may he rest in peace.
Her life took a critical turn when her husband, Prince Talal bin Muhammad, was diagnosed with cancer, an experience that became the starting point for her mission to change cancer care in Jordan and the Arab world. Thanks to her leadership, the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center provided treatment for tens of thousands of patients, established leading global partnerships, and reinforced a fundamental principle: that treatment is a human right for all, not a privilege.
Today, Princess Ghida continues to inspire through her humanity, determination, and deep belief that the power of science, compassion, and solidarity can change the future of cancer care for generations to come.
You grew up in Lebanon during the civil war in a prominent political family. How did those early experiences shape your sense of responsibility and determination?
Growing up in a country burdened by war forces one to confront questions one never expected: Why do wars happen? Why do we lose lives unnecessarily? Those years taught me self-reliance and forward-thinking, and pushed me into the adult world at an early age.
Moreover, I was raised in a family always engaged in public affairs, where politics, charity work, and connecting with people were part of daily conversations. From them, I developed a value for knowledge, diligence, and community service. Politics was so present in our daily life that I thought it was normal for all children. Through politics, one learns early about victories and losses, drawing lessons that give strength and vision needed to face life.
You studied Political Science and Economics at Georgetown University and graduated with honors. How did this academic background help you later in advocating for global health and cancer care?
Georgetown was the ideal university. It combines specialization with comprehensiveness. Coming from the Arab world, I was naturally drawn to politics and wanted to understand the forces destabilizing my region and Lebanon.
However, the truth is that academic specialization is not the most important factor; habits, intellectual discipline, and friendships we build are. At Georgetown, politics is taught from a truly global perspective. The School of Foreign Service I attended was the first of its kind in the U.S. and the world. Moreover, the diversity at the university was a source of strength, as I studied with students from all over the world, learning from each other as much as from books. This global perspective influenced my later work, embodying the spirit of Georgetown.
You started your journalism career at ABC News, Reuters, and the Financial Times. What lessons did you learn about truth, communication, and leadership?
Journalism attracted me because I wanted to change misconceptions and prejudices written about our region. In journalism, truth is sacred, and if you compromise it, you lose your credibility and integrity.
I learned to follow stories everywhere, even under the hardest conditions. I reported events in Beirut for Reuters during the peak of car bombings in 1988, then moved to South America to work with The Sunday Times. In Argentina, I covered rebellions inside military barracks in Buenos Aires and traveled to Paraguay to cover the coup that ended Alfredo Stroessner’s long dictatorship in Latin America.
In 1991, King Hussein tasked you with establishing the International Media Office and serving as his press officer. What were the most unforgettable moments working closely with the late King?
It was the greatest honor of my life. King Hussein embodied humanity in its finest form; a merciful leader who treated everyone with respect.
I was moved by his love for his people. The Hashemite family has always been close to Jordanians, listening and standing with them during hardships. King Hussein carried that sense of responsibility in his heart every day, just as His Majesty King Abdullah II does today. Working alongside him was an unforgettable school in leadership, humility, and humanity.
Your life path changed when your husband Prince Talal was diagnosed with lymphoma at a young age. How did this experience reshape your priorities?
Our lives turned upside down overnight. Everything changed; nothing else mattered—plans, routine, ambitions. Everything revolved around my husband’s battle with illness.
Priorities shift instantly, and what seemed important fades. You live in a different rhythm, like being in a bubble, while the world spins around you, but your focus narrows to one priority: saving the life of someone you love.
You once said that standing with cancer patients gave your life meaning. When did you realize this was your true mission?
Cancer changed everything in my life. It gave me a deep drive to ensure patients and their families in our region have the same chance at life that we had.
I remember sitting in the hospital during my husband’s treatment, thinking of all the women in our Arab world who don’t have that chance. I thought about their fear, helplessness, and pain. That’s when I realized I had to work to change this reality, to give hope, and make survival accessible to everyone, not just those who can afford it.
When you took the leadership of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center in 2001, the cancer landscape in the region was bleak. What were the main initial challenges?
When I established the foundation and center, cancer care in Jordan and the region was extremely limited. There were almost no specialized facilities, oncologists, or qualified staff.
One major challenge was reversing the brain drain of medical professionals. We reached out to distinguished Jordanian and Arab doctors abroad, asking them to return and contribute to building a specialized center. Thanks to their belief in our mission, we formed a highly skilled medical team.
Another challenge was stigma. Before the center was founded, cancer was synonymous with death, and people feared even uttering the word. After 25 years of awareness efforts, today we can proudly say we have made a real impact. People now talk about cancer openly and face it with faith, patience, and determination.
The King Hussein Cancer Center is now among the most advanced institutions in the region. What are its most notable achievements in your view?
Our most notable achievement is treating over 70,000 patients according to the highest modern medical standards, giving tens of thousands a real chance at life. We built a leading center offering the latest therapies, such as immunotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, cellular and applied genomics CAR-T therapies, robotic surgeries, and other procedures previously available only abroad.
What makes me prouder is that we do not refuse any patient, whether a refugee or financially disadvantaged; everyone is treated with the same dignity. This led us to establish charitable funds covering treatment for underprivileged patients. Through these, thousands received comprehensive care without financial barriers denying them their right to treatment.
Therefore, I believe the balance between medical advancement and humanity is the foundation of what distinguishes the King Hussein Cancer Center.
How have partnerships with institutions like MD Anderson, St. Jude, and NCI helped make the center a global institution?
International partnerships are the cornerstone of the center’s journey and a testament to its credibility. Our first partnership with St. Jude paved the way for subsequent collaborations. We worked and learned from the world’s best cancer centers, like MD Anderson and the National Cancer Institute. These partnerships helped us raise standards, enhance expertise, and establish the center as a global beacon. We continue to build new partnerships to serve our mission and provide the most advanced care for our patients.
Funding and philanthropy are essential for the sustainability of the institution and center. What has been the most inspiring experience in rallying support?
The most inspiring thing for me is seeing the whole community unite against cancer. From the start, we wanted these efforts to be based on national collective initiatives.
Over the years, we saw children donating their pocket money, families supporting patients, and companies and donors standing by us. This reminds us that just as cancer knows no borders, humanity does not either.