Remember 18-Year-Old Bahraini Princess Who Eloped With a US Marine? Here's How Their Life Turned Out

The love story of Meriam Al Khalifa and Jason Johnson felt like a real-life fairy tale. An 18-year-old Bahraini princess fell in love with a simple American soldier and secretly ran away with him, leaving behind her life of luxury for the sake of love. Their romance, often compared to Romeo and Juliet, even sparked a diplomatic crisis. But how did this unlikely couple first meet? How did they overcome all the challenges to be together? And where are they now, 23 years later? Watch the full video to find out.

[@MrCHAIRMANOFTHEBORED]

It's a bit of a surprise that both of them are still alive, especially with the way some families react to situations like this, but I do hope that both are happy and living a good life,no matter who they are with now

[@NikkiGloom]

a lifetime Movie was made on this they announce a divorce 8 years after getting married.

[@chrystya]

No, they filed for a divorce

[@genecps]

I met him in Las Vegas. He is an absolutely normal, likable guy.

[@davenewsom5985]

Did he ever say anything about her or if he still talks to her as a friend?

[@jrobertsnz]

What is "Normal?"

[@ednam.oliveros6194]

​@@jrobertsnz research for it to find out.

[@ChannelJtotheD]

Miriam being a princess is an absolutely lucky woman. Whichever way you look at it, it worked for her, eloping, getting married, divorcing, meeting her family again who didn’t lay a finger on her and then married again to her own native, still enjoying life with royal comforts. Iv never heard of so much freedom for all of the other princesses. Jason seems like a good man with the right intentions and helping her out from a difficult situation. I’m hoping he also finds happiness. Even so, sometimes nothing lasts forever and only the two of them will know why it had to end.

[@teri7371]

She’s now trapped with an old controller man 😢

[@MytempusIC]

Nobody should judge them (or anyone). In this case, couple did what felt right for them. We must wish them best of life.

[@Ivy-xz2xl]

I think she was a naive young girl. But that doesn't make her a bad person. Jason is an admirable person.

[@Thatonlyone678]

Naive ! Oh plz 🙄

[@giftkaluagibo163]

What do you mean? Only lefties can come with comment like this

[@ashleywooden8936]

What u mean she sure as hell wasn't naive when she left her kids to go back to luxury

[@davekramer4266]

I believe that she did love him Originally BUT, She was also living in a Fantasy, as she also heard about the Great life in the USA, BUT didn't realize you had to work for it, and ALL the Common everyday things that went along with it{IE; Cooking, Laundry, Ironing, Shopping for Food, Care of the overall Property, ALL these she Never experienced before, as they were done for her.🤔

[@gld1010]

I can see that but she never reached deeply in love with him or she would have made it through the tough times until they became successful. There are many stories of once struggling enlisted Marines becoming successful and soon to be Vice President Vance is one of them and probably one of the best and isolated examples. I know politically people would disagree but realistically, he is a struggling enlisted Marine success story.

[@williammoore1980]

Please. She manipulated the fuck out of his dumb ass.

[@tomons8059]

​@@gld1010But Vance is a lawyer.

[@anitanagahisa3049]

I think it was a case of a teenage love and excitement in a structured life.

[@Zee_1003]

when i was young i was able to watch the movie about them and i was so amazed of their pove story, all they had to endure to fight for their love is so admirable.

[@johnlove6194]

The princess was not aware that the servants have to be paid with hard earned money.

[@whatsreal7506]

She definitely WAS NOT worth it!

[@jdsheleg8332]

Neither was the Marine. He was a turd that violated his orders. It does not take much to realize that he was no longer in "Kansas", and yet, thought that this girl was just another girl at the club outside the base. That is why Marines are call "crayon eaters", no common sense at all.

[@2511thai]

From my understanding and what I have read and watched on TV. Those two divorced because they argued over money. She was used to having money all the time and Jason came from a modest means. Jason was enlisted U.S. Marines. Jason received a dishonorable discharge means he did not receive the G.I. bill. He was parking cars for a job, There was not a lot of money in that. His wife did not understand, He got kicked out of the U.S. Marines because of her.

[@vinzanity68]

If Rome and Juliet had not committed suicide, they would have been divorced as well and married to different people hehehe :D

[@ranapartap1501]

hahahaha true

[@tsheringwangmo2878]

😅

[@kapilmehta1476]

Humm

[@robertcrawford7806]

Jason was her ticket to freedom from the clutches of her family.

[@angelarandall143]

That’s all that was

[@betsyj59]

Whom she went back to once she realized that the wealth was worth marrying the "high status" Bahraini man chosen for her.

[@Laurassausallejamene]

Muslim Girls ain’t worth the love.

[@Neelinmact]

Why is it that white folks always make assumptions about how bad it is for the non whites ,, somehow they always think they are better ? 😅

[@sylviagonzalez3811]

I remember seeing an update and she had a hard time adjusting because she didn't know how to work and didn't want to work. She was rich and didn't want to live an average life. She ran away because she had a fantasy in her head.

[@roseatkinson3508]

Spoiled brat. She did everything she wanted to do and he upended his career for her and she turned her back. Talking about sowing wild oats. I hope they are both happy, but I hope Jason found a loving relationship and with someone who really cared.

[@amiquigonzales7917]

VERY spoiled brat this Merriam. She's a princess so she's good at NOTHING, she wasn't even studying let alone working. SHE LOVES TO PARTY, HAVE FUN, LAUGH AND NOTHING ELSE. A privileged life. Poor young and righteous militar, he gave up his career for love and even risked jail and a hitman.... for nothing less than a spoiled young woman (with a horrible nose. She may have enough money for plastic surgery, but it's the genes, she'll have babies who will inherit that nose). I think that for her falling in love, a handsome foreigner as a swain, the courtship, all in English that she's seen in Hollywood movies was so mysterious, exciting and adventurous that she was oh too glad to live up to. Now she's back to the life she's always had, with what she likes most: doing nothing and being treated like Royalty. She doesn't even work !!!

[@jdsheleg8332]

He did not have a "career" yet, he was just another stupid private thinking that he was just picking up a girl outside the base in one of the clubs. No common sense at all! He did not get court martialed for nothing.

[@amiquigonzales7917]

@@jdsheleg8332 It was unwise of him, but is she an ignorant innocent young child?? Give me a break !!!!

[@Tracymoon24]

Her nose 😅

[@anahitaghvanyan1152]

From documentary I watched she disappeared, no one knows where. And her father changed his more progressive views for women in Arab world. I would say she spoiled it for herself and for other women in Bahrain. She became nothing and vanished, while she could have best education and leave her mark as other princesses do when given opportunity. She had hers.

[@RobotRebelCinema]

She's a spoiled rich girl, of course she got bored with him. Had he been a billionaire instead of a Marine, they'd still be married.

[@Leticia-s3t1q]

It must be very hard to live an ordinary life.

[@RobotRebelCinema]

@@Leticia-s3t1q No it's not hard, it's just boring and annoying when you can't always afford the things you want.

[@johnlove6194]

Imho, the billionaire would be flat broke after 20 years.

[@majorronaldmandell7835]

He was not discharged from the corpse. He was discharged from the Corps. Corps is pronounced “core”. The “p” and “s” are silent. It’s a French word.

[@fordhouse8b]

Yes, corpse is a dead body, while corps is a body (group) of people.

[@siddislikesgoogle]

Its a bot reading text. It's nuances like that which give it away, but its hard to tell no? Amazing how tech has progressed

[@رحالعبرالزمن-ز3ن]

Your ex-wife was returned to her family safely. You are a man worthy of respect

[@nelsonvalencia7889]

It's a bit of surprise that both of them are still alive, especially with the way some families react to situations like this. But I do hope that both are happy and living a good life, no matter who they are now. 😍🇵🇭

[@julianneheindorf5757]

There is a much better love story out there about the poor young Indian street artist of the untouchables cast who fell in love with a visiting Swedish girl. She wanted him to come to Sweden, but he didn’t have the money to travel so instead he got a bicycle and biked all the way from India to Sweden going through many countries. It took him five months and en route he earned money using is skills as an artist in painting and drawing to pay for food and lodgings. She helped him get settled in Sweden, and years later this couple is still happily married living in Sweden with two adult children.

[@maygrantz4426]

if this story was real and it says love conquer all..

[@கசடதபற-ற5ல]

​@@maygrantz4426 this is a true story. You could google their pictures!

[@angelinahunter182]

In a traditional culture it's hard to believe that Meriam's father forgave her -- and if he did, God bless him. It's also hard to believe that in her culture that she was able to marry again -- amazingly modern.

[@mikearun4672]

contrary to sky news,cnn in islam muslim women are treated the most precious the way women treated in saudi,and afghanisthan are their closed cultures nothng to do with islam ,you should look up bnagladeshi,indonesian,malaysian,turkish,iranian,morrocan muslim women,gulf arab unlike levant,egyptian,mtunisian,algerian arab are the worst conservative arabs,islam allowed divorce,remarriage not only allowed but encouraged since 1400 hundred years,and codified laws for it,when christian,hindus has divorce for only 500,and 200 years

[@DMG-e9k]

It’s very easy to judge from the outside. Regardless of what people think money does matter and coming from her wealth would be very difficult. I believe she thought she was in love and it all seemed very romantic but having lived in a palace with servants attending to all her needs reality would soon kick in when she would have to cook and clean which would be so alien to her. They are both happily remarried so we must wish them well. I don’t believe a green card was that important to her considering she left the country and could get a visa to visit any time.

[@victoriavoon1846]

May both of them find happiness in their new family/marriage.

[@sam-n2b9j]

They both did what they thought was right at the time, life is about experience.

[@rinahartoyo8563]

I think mirriam did not love jason so much

[@jeanblyth6305]

Loved the film about their meeting and adventure to get to America together 🫶🏼🫠

[@davenewsom5985]

I wish they still made that movie on DVD. It's on Amazon Prime...but it's not the same. 😟😔

[@mariaelenaballera7591]

Their life just came to the point that there was no more common to share. Economically, it became a stand still for Mirriam. She couldnt go any further. Plus life became boring with no shopping to do. The guy could not earn any more for lack of training. They loved each other 💖 from the beginning. Mirriam even went through hardships. But she cant stay that Way ❤

[@samxiebonito2102]

Wow thank you for this story

[@chonadelosreyes2036]

I loved their story, but I was disappointed when I found out that it's not a happy ending. Hope they will find their true happiness. 😇

[@ErisstheGoddessofmanhwas]

I remember this story.

[@ancientruth5298]

Every person has its imperfections no matter how they love each other every one has its own weakness ,,

[@davenewsom5985]

Bout damn time we hear about this story. I love the 2001 movie.

[@sureshchiatar9641]

True Marine, honorable

[@nenebriones3335]

Being a princess I think she will not stay forever to Jason because she grows up with luxurious life style surrounded by Nanny’s who will assist her in all her needs . I work with the Princess of Saudi Arabia .

[@amiquigonzales7917]

Good luck. May in 2025 you will find prosperity and happiness. Tal vez sea de origen latinoamericano, buena suerte en todo. Los nuestros (aristócratas) son terribles pero esta gente de cultura árabe/islámica es aún peor.

[@nenebriones3335]

I watched this whole movie love it.

[@alph8654]

What I believe does not matter. Nor what anybody else believes.

[@georgegarvey7338]

Emma stories!!! Don't call him a soldier, he's a Marine. Us Soldiers are in the Army.

[@gld1010]

LOL, Semper Fi!

[@georgegarvey7338]

@gld1010 HOO AAH!!

[@amandahirschfeld7382]

It was true love for him,not for her.

[@kungfuwhip78]

She was 18 yrs old, naive, and foolish. Yes, she lived a very privileged and well protected life. When she married a common man, she saw the reality of it all, and so did Jason. we can never escape reality, we need to accept it. That’s what happened, and they knew divorce was the only option. It was a blessing in disguise, and they’re both leading their respective lives happily.

[@jocelynharris-fx8ho]

Teenagers don't know what love is, they are infatuated. She was in love with a fantasy, like Cinderella and Prince charming. It's a shame that he lost his military career over her. I wish him nothing but the best but as a Christian myself, the Bible clearly states, that a Christian is only supposed to be married to another Christian. If you marry someone that does not share your Biblical values, the Bible states that you are "unequally yoked" (unequally bound or tied together). Relationships involving people who don't believe in Biblical values, start off at a disadvantage and only get worse. The Bible has specific standards and guidelines for a reason. Go against them and you will have needless heartache.💔 I know what I'm talking about, I learned the hard way myself. When I was in high school, I knew quite a few girls who were married and had babies before graduation....none of those marriages lasted...In fact, one of them was a friend of mine. We graduated in 1982. When I ran into her again 2 years later, she was on her third marriage. Many times, young teenaged girls see marriage is a way to get out from underneath their parents and assert their independence but there is a heavy emotional and financial price to pay, regardless of your family status .

[@vickie30]

They got married too fast…

[@acclemaali8530]

She was seeking FREEDOM!!!!

[@doritoworld8062]

She obviously used Jason to get away from her ruling father and to not marry some elderly Arab. So glad Jason found true love and moved on.

[@kirav2536]

I think she loved her husband. But being away from her family was difficult for her. After years of living outside your country it takes toll on you. Cultural differences are huge problem for couples

[@majorronaldmandell7835]

She did not fall in love with a soldier. She fell in love with a Marine. Soldiers are in the Army, not the Marine Corps. No Marine wants to be called a soldier. It’s an insult!

[@jaycee-fl3pp]

@majorronaldmandell...look up definition of soldier...dont make US Marines look ignorant...arrogant...and egotistical...any fighting person is a soldier...you can be proud of your branch...just dont need to make your branch look foolish

[@fordhouse8b]

@@jaycee-fl3pp Yes, the very word marine, in the sense of a noun for a member of that military branch is essentially a shortened form of marine infantry, and a member of the marine infantry is a marine infantry soldier. Also, in addition to this objection being petty, and factually and historically silly, wasn’t the greater insult pronouncing the word corps (as in Marine Corps as "corpse?” Someone should tell her that corpse is a daed body, while corps is a body of (many) people, and is pronounced like ‘core.'

[@mickeyts5626]

You must have a lot of time on your hands

[@tomons8059]

So what if they feel insulted. They are all soldiers.

[@majorronaldmandell7835]

@: No. I repeat, soldiers are in the Army. Marines are in the Marine Corps. Sailors are in the Navy. Airmen are in the Air Force. Guardians are in the Space Force. Sailors, Airmen and Guardians are not taught Boston handle, or fire firearms, but you are going to call them soldiers, right?

[@rayfalciola6163]

In the end $$$Love$$$ always wins

[@dukelopez8988]

He is a Marine not a SOLDIER!! Get it right!!!

[@saejinquan]

She probably watched the movie, "Officer and a Gentlemen" and was smitten by Hollywood's romantic fantasy.

[@aldofromsf]

Their values could not be further apart. Full stop.

[@scarletfrances5004]

Sad Story ❤

[@barbaraknowles1275]

She was young and impressionable

[@davenewsom5985]

I believe she loved him. I just hope they're still good friends.

[@demsrchildabusers7959]

It could have been true love on Miriam's part. But love isn't enough or even necessary in the first place.

[@alansmith2203]

From a Bahrain super rich royal family to marrying a private in the Marine Corp....what possibly could go wrong?

[@hildahilpert5018]

Oh that,s true.My.mom told me about my dad when in Italy during WW2, had affairs with an opera singer and a countess. Why she told me not sure.At least , daddy just had affairs.

[@RM-ww5td]

Shhhhh that’s a perfect story for us man! He got royal 🐈‍⬛!

[@SAmini-ek7gt]

sad story..

[@JM-gu3tx]

Corps is not pronounced like corpse.....

[@elizabethmari337]

She used him. Thats treason and she is going to pay. Karma

[@adiraodeda7962]

I think she was curious enough about the world outside of what she had known. Once she got that taste she was ready to go home. The Marine was in it for life.

[@roselee4445]

Did hecwork at McDonald's or something

[@teresahaidarian2600]

A miss match from the beginning

[@edlicsathiamurthy4520]

She probably used Jason

[@rkmatt8761]

Yup what would you expect from that spoiled girl. She played Jason poor guy didn’t deserve her manipulation.

[@Lynnromesa]

She’s seeking freedom…

[@annieannie4004]

If the heart talk no one can hold exept parents 😅

[@alexadornado3810]

great

[@MaiPapitchaya995]

She was selfish.I felt pity to this beautiful man😢

[@joanalmarghani661]

Got her green card,that was her goal

[@GoatJames23-hs5xq]

Fck u. Shes rich

[@tessajowett6973]

It was hardly going to last

[@didierduplantier8359]

Kinda surprising that any well connected and wealthy Muslim man would want to hitch up with a divorced woman

[@roselee4445]

Not unusual

[@MichElle-zc9tu]

Princess Haya secretly ran away too.

[@rayvenvamp3093]

He has true love and she used him. Aw lawd have mercy

[@mervyfaith4876]

Pinagtagpo pero hindi tinadhana.

[@joycemurray8183]

No! She was seeking refuge!

[@davenewsom5985]

I hope they still talk as friends.

[@cynthiapalacioscindy.9406]

Our sweet American boys will one day learn

[@jdsheleg8332]

It takes more than "love" and "determination" to make a marriage work. He failed to do his "homework" and failed at marriage.

[@miriamzajfman4305]

Only Miriam knows the answer 😉

[@S62bhas]

its a sad ending why should the U S Marines discharge him

[@gld1010]

Not following orders and/or bringing negative spotlight on to the Marine Corps. It is easy to get burnt (disciplined) in the Marines and for silly crap. The second most strict is probably the US Coast Guard because of their law enforcement status and visibility to civilians. Note: More digging, he forged transfer papers for Meriam, who he/they disguised as a Marine, to sneak her into the US. That would definitely be a court martial offense, probably the initial circumstances saved him from prison time and/or a dishonorable/bad conduct discharge

[@DESIBOY-fe7nm]

Political pressure.

[@Dolsie-tv6mh]

So why would her father speak bad about the Marine or think badly of him. When he was the one who raised a party girl that only knew how to spend money NOT invest it. The money ran out and she took off. She didn’t like doing the chores of a committed wife.

[@kevinhull7925]

Did she love him or did she want to escape? Maybe both

[@WilfredoFernandez-m1v]

I enjoy the video how they met. I don't enjoy the video how depart.

[@selini52]

The American woman he married is much more beautiful than the Arab princess. He is lucky the way it went!

[@BelovetteMuse]

A Arabic Muslim princess and a American Christian veteran I could of told you that wasn’t going to work.

[@VeronicaPalmisano-q3o]

I thought this young woman left this relationship and returned to Bahrain?

[@ryanawilson8549]

I remember this

[@raymondvargas6143]

young and rebellious , no way that marriage would have worked

[@NajmQalbi]

Every muslims know how it will be ended ..not because by her or his background....

[@mafadegs3580]

They were in love but very young.

[@nenebriones3335]

Just was I thought they will divorce.

[@madelyn2525]

She was a spoiled brat, didn’t love Jason, very sad. Hope Jason is happily married now! Her, I am sure she is been mistreated by her current husband.

[@Dog.soldier1950]

Save you some time; she used him to get a green card and then divorced him.

[@vickie30]

She wanted freedom..

[@ricksanchez5147]

Why did dudes cover wrong in the thumbnail

[@shirleylee2885]

Probably was not love for her.

[@Samiya106]

This was not love but 15 minutes fame 😂for her and he wanted to be the g Hero who safe the princess 👸

[@tammyhan6162]

Cameron you make about this younger couple Story !!! want to make money, but don’t use this story Half common it’s true it was On television newspaper

[@raffatperveen3150]

That's why this marriage doesn't survive

[@CarloAnello-v9r]

It was a combo Of different things I think he fucked up. He should’ve took that money about rental property with it and made them both wealthy. You know I wish you wouldn’t have to return the bar. If you don’t want to he still loved her which breaks my heart, but it is what it is.

[@PashtanaKarimi]

1-6-2025 With all my respect 🙏 🙏 to everyone who is looking at my message ❤️ She was young ❤❤❤❤ but in the end she could not have a normal family life 🧬🧬 she was a princess and she will always be a princess in her heart ❤️ I can understand it all 🙏🙏💓🙏 I was Yung girl 😢😢😢😢😢 she used him big time 🤣🤣🤣 I heard there story long time ago 🤣🤣 girls and boys who comes from back home 🏡🏡 they just like to partying.. she didn't love him because they don't know what is true love 😢😢😢😢😢 most important information is 75 /100 End of divorce 😢😢😢 the man go back home and get married and started to helping his family 😄 girls will always find some one who is more open mine and have money 💰🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑 it's very sad 😭😭 America is a freedom dreams to everyone who is on the other side of the world 🌍 ❤❤❤❤❤❤🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷

[@johnphillips4268]

What do you call a love story? Not! Also, the p is silent in the Marine Corps, pronounced Marine Core. I was in the Marine Corps and am thankful I didn't become a Marine corpse.