Ahmad Shah Khan, Crown Prince of Afghanistan

At the time of his birth he was second in the line of succession to the throne after his older brother Muhammed Akbar Khan, Crown Prince of Afghanistan. However following the death of his brother on 26 November 1942, he became first in the line of succession and the heir apparent and Crown Prince.

He was educated first at Esteqlal High School, and College of Military Science, in Kabul.

Later he attended the University of Oxford, the Institut d'études politiques de Paris (IEP) and later spent time working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul.

His father's reign ended on 17 July 1973, when he was ousted by a coup with Afghanistan being declared a republic. The Crown Prince was one of fourteen members of the royal family arrested following the coup. He was allowed to leave the country for Rome on 26 July.[1] Following the overthrow of the monarchy, the Crown Prince settled in the state of Virginia, United States and took to writing poetry.[2]

Since the death of his father on 23 July 2007, he is the oldest surviving male heir of the last king of Afghanistan.

Unlike his father, he does not possess the official title "Baba-i-Millet-i-Afghanistan" (Father of the Nation of Afghanistan).

He was married at Kabul in 1961 to Princess Khatul Begum, daughter of Sardar Muhammad Umar Khan Zikeria, by his wife, Princess Sultana Begum, fourth daughter of Muhammad Nadir Shah, King of Afghanistan (d. 1933). He has two sons and one daughter:

• Prince Muhammad Zahir Khan (born 26 May 1962). He married Princess Oshila Begum (b. 1958). They have a daughter:
  • Princess Roxanne Khanum (born 1988).
• Prince Muhammad Emel Khan (born 1969).
• Princess Hawa Khanum (born 27 October 1963). She married Sultan Muhammad Nawaz (b. 1963).