Sheikha Alia on meeting Sheikh Zayed during one particularly memorable National Day:
I was about 7 years old and was performing a dance as part of my school group for the late Sheikh Zayed. All of the rulers were there, and Sheikh Zayed requested to see me. I went to him, sat on his lap and, I promise you, I can still hear his voice in my ear today.
He asked me who I was and when I said I was Alia Al Qassimi he was surprised. Ironically my uncles were sitting on the right and left-hand side of him, but as I looked much younger than my age, they didn’t recognise me immediately either.
We then talked about my schooling and I remember how sweet, gentle and incredibly warm he was.
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