In a significant move, King Charles has granted a new royal title following the recent passing of the late Aga Khan, Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, who died at the age of 88 last week. His son, Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini, 53, has now been named Aga Khan V.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the newly appointed Aga Khan will carry the title of “His Highness,” continuing a royal tradition of recognizing the spiritual leader of millions of Ismaili Muslims worldwide.
The late Aga Khan received the same title from Queen Elizabeth II in July 1957, mere weeks after he unexpectedly became heir to his family’s 1,300-year legacy as leader of the Ismaili community.
King Charles was reportedly deeply saddened by the death of the late Aga Khan, who was a close personal friend to both the King and Queen Elizabeth II for many years.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, along with all his children, hold British citizenship and maintain strong ties to the UK. His mother is British, as was his late paternal grandmother. Rahim Aga Khan V also has a notable history in horse racing, sharing a passion for the sport with the late Queen.
Notably, the Queen’s racehorse Estimate, which won the Royal Ascot’s 2013 Gold Cup—the first victory for a reigning monarch in the race’s 207-year history—was a birthday gift from the late Aga Khan.
Additionally, Aga Khan IV served as the founding patron of the King’s Trust. Within the Ismaili community, the Aga Khan is regarded as a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and is treated with respect akin to that of a head of state.
A funeral service for the late Aga Khan was held in Lisbon on Saturday, followed by a private burial ceremony in Aswan, Egypt, on Sunday.
