King Charles has given the new Aga Khan a title following the death of his “personal friend” Prince Karim Al-Husseini, the 49th imam of Isma’ilism, Buckingham Palace has announced.
The King has bestowed the 50th Imam and new Aga Khan, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the title “His Highness”.
Charles is continuing a long-standing royal tradition of bestowing the title on the spiritual leader of the world’s millions of Ismaili Muslims.
Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini, 53, was named the Aga Khan V following the death of his father, Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, at the age of 88 last week.
The late Aga Khan was given the title of “His Highness” by Queen Elizabeth II in July 1957, two weeks after his grandfather unexpectedly made him heir to the family’s 1,300-year dynasty as leader of the Ismaili Muslim sect.
The King was left deeply saddened over the death of the late Aga Khan.
The billionaire philanthropist was a personal friend of both Charles and Queen Elizabeth II for many years.
He was also a leading owner and breeder of racehorses, sharing a passion for racing with the late Queen and helping her achieve one of her most enjoyable days at the races.
The Queen’s filly Estimate, which claimed victory in Royal Ascot’s 2013 Gold Cup – the first time in the race’s 207-year history that it had been won by a reigning monarch, was an 80th birthday present from the late Aga Khan.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “To mark the accession of Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan as the fiftieth hereditary Imam of the Shi’a Ismaili Muslim community, and in accordance with long-standing tradition, it has pleased The King to grant the new Aga Khan the title “His Highness”.
The Aga Khan is considered by his followers to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and is treated as a head of state.
The late Aga Khan’s funeral was held in Lisbon on Saturday before a private burial ceremony in Aswan, Egypt, on Sunday.