Career
She was the widow of General Nega Tegegn, who was governor of the provinces of Begemder and Semien. She was described by Nathaniel T. Kenney as a "trim, most democratic of princesses," who "was not above grabbing a tool from a workman, I suspect, and showing him how to use lieutenant" Princess Hirut was educated at the School of Street Clare (re-named Bolitho School), Penzance, Cornwall, and Clarendon School, Abergele, North Wales. She was imprisoned by the Dergue from 1974 until 1988.
Princess Hirut Desta died in London aged 84 in 2014, and her funeral was conducted at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa.
President of the Committee for the Restoration of the Churches of Lalibela. National honours.