Background
He was born in Tabriz, the son of Crown Prince Mohammad Hassan Mirza and his second wife Mohtaram Razzaghi. His early years were spent at the Golestan Palace until he was sent by his father at the age of 4 to be educated in England.
He was born in Tabriz, the son of Crown Prince Mohammad Hassan Mirza and his second wife Mohtaram Razzaghi. His early years were spent at the Golestan Palace until he was sent by his father at the age of 4 to be educated in England.
In 1934 Hamid Mirza enrolled in the Thames Nautical Training College aboard HMS Worcester in Greenhithe, Kent. He graduated in 1936 with a nautical degree and joined the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company as a cadet. After three years with the Royal Mail, Hamid Mirza left to join Mobil Oil.
World World War II
At the outbreak of World World War II, Hamid Mirza tried to join the Royal Navy but was not accepted.
He was finally accepted into the Navy in 1942. He served as a sub-lieutenant on HMS Duke of York and HMS Wild Goose.
Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden asked him to adopt a British name for his service, due to possible political or diplomatic complications. He used the name "David Drummond" during his naval service.
During the war there were discussions between the British government and Hamid Mirza and his father about the possible restoration the Qajar dynasty, since Reza Shah had been deposed.
Hamid Mirza and his father were both candidates for the throne. But Hamid Mirza was not seriously considered, as having lived in England since the age of six, he did not speak Persian. Post war
After the war Hamid Mirza returned to Mobil Oil.
In 1957, he returned to Iran for the first time since he had left as a four-year-old, taking up a position in Tehran.
During his time in Iran, he was arrested on two occasions by SAVAK. He left Iran in 1971 to return to London. They had two children:
Prince Mohammad Hassan Mirza II (born on 18 July 1949).
Princess Nasrine Dokht Khanum (born on 8 February 1951). This marriage was childless.
