After several weeks of political negotiations and arrangements, Reza Shah left Iran with part of his family. Initially bound for India, the British diverted their journey to the remote island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It was here that Abdolreza and his siblings experienced the loneliness and isolation of royal exile.
In Mauritius, Reza Shah maintained a strict schedule for his sons. Abdolreza, along with his brothers, was expected to continue his education and physical training. They were provided with a private tutor and were discouraged from idleness. The island was lush and remote, and Abdolreza spent much of his free time exploring its forests and engaging in hunting—an interest that would stay with him throughout his life.
In 1942, the family was relocated to South Africa. They eventually settled in Durban and later in Johannesburg, where the family was divided into two households. Reza Shah lived with Hamid Reza and Mahmoud Reza, while Abdolreza resided with his other brothers—Ali Reza and Gholam Reza. It was during this time that Abdolreza purchased a gramophone recorder, allowing Reza Shah to send voice messages to Mohammad Reza, now Shah of Iran.
Reza Shah’s health deteriorated quickly in South Africa. Abdolreza remained by his father’s side until the elder Pahlavi died of a heart attack on July 26, 1944. The body was transported to Cairo, where it was interred in the Rifa’i Mosque until its eventual transfer to Iran.
