Salimah Aga Khan

Salimah Aga Khan
Lady James Charles Crichton-Stuart
BornSarah Frances Croker Poole
(1941-01-28) 28 January 1941
New Delhi, British India
Spouse
Lord James Charles Crichton-Stuart
(m. 1959; div. 1968)
(m. 1969; div. 1995)
Issue
FatherArthur Eric Croker Poole
MotherJean Margaret Watson
ReligionNizari Ismaili Shia Islam

Salimah Aga Khan (née Sarah Frances Croker Poole; born 28 January 1941) is a British socialité and former fashion model. She is the mother of Aga Khan V, imam of the Nizari Isma'ili Muslims; she is an ex-wife of the 49th Ismaili Shia Imam and 4th Aga Khan, Karim Aga Khan.[1]

Early life

Salimah was born at New Delhi, British India, as Sarah Frances Croker Poole.[2] She is the daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Eric Croker Poole and his wife, Jean Margaret Watson. She was one of the last generation of debutantes to be presented to the Queen, in 1958.[3]

She married, firstly, Lord James Charles Crichton-Stuart, son of John Crichton-Stuart, 5th Marquess of Bute and Lady Eileen Beatrice Forbes, on 25 June 1959. She and Lord James Charles Crichton-Stuart were divorced in 1968.

She married, secondly, Karim Aga Khan IV, son of Aly Khan and Taj-ud-dawlah Aga Khan, in 1969.

In November 1995, "Jewels from the Personal Collection of Princess Salimah Aga Khan" realised $27,682,601 (equivalent to $58,490,754 in 2025) at Christie's, Geneva.[4]

Charitable career

She is now a child-welfare activist and a prominent supporter of the charity SOS Children's Villages, becoming its first international ambassador. [5] As part of her welfare activity she has also aided Afghan refugees.

She has also been active in the Aga Khan Development Network.

Personal life

She has three children with Karim: Zahra Aga Khan (born 18 September 1970), Aga Khan V (born 12 October 1971) and Hussain Aga Khan (born 10 April 1974).

Salimah Aga Khan has lived in Geneva, Switzerland, since 1969.

References

  1. ^ "The Aga Khan, philanthropist and spiritual leader, dies aged 88". The Guardian. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  2. ^ "Aga Khan fails to stop former wife's jewellery sale". Independent.co.uk. 11 November 1995. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  3. ^ "High Society: Whatever happened to the last of the debs?". Independent. 24 September 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Top Ten Most Expensive Private Jewelry Collections Sold at Auction". Jewelsdujour.com. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Interview with Princess Salimah Aga Khan" (PDF). Sameeragokalfoundation.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2018.