The head of the Royal Court then went to the Minister of War. Upon arrival, he noticed unusual military activity and immediately informed the King that the area was filled with officers and soldiers who should not have been there. Before the head of the Royal Court could finish speaking, gunfire erupted, and the phone line went dead, leaving King Farouk anxious and on edge. Minutes later, the Egyptian Navy dispatched a warship to the Montazah Palace berth to protect the royal family. At 3:00am, a warplane appeared above the palace.

Following the King’s orders, the warship aimed its guns at the aircraft but did not fire, and the plane quickly disappeared. Later, King Farouk refl ected on the tense moments, saying, “I realized I had to leave Montazah Palace because it was an easy target for aircraft. If I must be killed, let it be in the heart of Alexandria where my people can see everything. I don’t want any rumors after my death that I committed suicide.” Despite the curfew and the deployment of army forces, King Farouk chose to risk his life and that of his family, leaving Montazah Palace for Ras El Tin Palace. At Ras El Tin Palace, King Farouk was met by a large number of officers assigned to protect him. A few hours later, a full Sudanese detachment arrived, and the navy sent a signal from the port of Alexandria requesting permission to engage the coup plotters.

Regarding this, the King later said, “I aimed my pistol at one of the officers, but I could not kill him even though I hold the Swiss International Masters Certificate in marksmanship. I shot him in the leg. It was a disgusting act, and I took no pleasure in it.”

After that, a temporary truce was declared. During this time, the King’s close associates urged him to seek assistance from the British, but he refused. King Farouk said, “I decided not to ask the British for help, even though they had forces nearby that could intervene directly.” During the truce, the Egyptian Prime Minister at the time, Ali Maher Pasha, arrived at the palace and met with the King. He informed him, “They want you to abdicate by noon, and you must leave Egypt by 6:00 pm.” The King replied immediately, “I am ready to sign the agreement right now, but I have two conditions. The first is that the abdication document be official and constitutional. The second is that my loyal army officers be allowed to give me full military honors upon my departure.”

In the abdication document, King Farouk wrote, “The shedding of a single drop of Egyptian blood is more precious to me than all the thrones in the world. Leaving immediately is easier on my heart than spilling Egyptian blood for the sake of my position.” At 6:20 pm on July 26, 1952, King Farouk left Egypt aboard his royal yacht, El Mahrousa. President Mohamed Naguib later recounted inhis memoirs, “I arrived late to bid farewell to the King due to traffic congestion. By the time I arrived, the royal yacht El Mahrousa had already set sail. I took a gunboat and boarded the yacht, where the King was waiting for me. I saluted him, and he returned the salute. I said to the King, ‘Perhaps you recall that I was the only officer who resigned on February 4, 1942, in protest against the British siege of the royal palace. At that time, I was ready to sacrifice my livelihood and my life for you. But today, I stand at the head of the army against you.’” King Farouk replied, “The army is not my personal property, but belongs to my nation, Egypt. If the army believes that my abdication will bring good to Egypt, then I wish it all the best.” They say that injustice is darkness, yet the unfortunate only come to understand this truth after they fall and experience the consequences of their wrongdoing. No one escapes the consequences of injustice.