An invite to the Shah of Persia’s most expensive party ever thrown

An invite to the Shah of Persia’s most expensive party ever thrown

In October 1971 the Shah of Persia celebrated his country’s 2,500th anniversary in style. The three day jolly would be the most lavish party in history

Words: Tom Ward

What’s a good excuse for a blow-out party? A milestone birthday? A record business deal? Your child’s graduation? How about the 2,500th anniversary of your empire? In October 1971, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, (soon to be the last king, or Shah, of Persia) pulled out all the stops for a three-day fiesta celebrating two and a half millennia of the Persian Empire.

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