The Jordanian royal house announced the engagement of Prince Husseinheir to the throne of that country, and the Saudi architect Rajwa Al Seif in August 2022. Less than a year later, the couple tied the knot in a stunning royal wedding attended by international royals including the emeritus John Charles I and Sofia or the princes of walesThe latter had not announced their presence, but they did not want to miss such an important day for a clan with which the British royal family maintains close ties – both Prince William and Hussein are graduates of the Sandhurst military academy and have spent time together over the years.
The party was held in the gardens of the Zahran palace, which was built in 1957 in west Amman and serves as the seat of the Hashemite royal court. It was also in this place where three decades ago the groom’s parents swore eternal love, the Queen Rania and the rHey Abdullah II. In case there is anyone who is unaware, it is worth remembering that Abdullah II is the eldest son of King Hussein I of Jordanwho initially arranged that the heir to the Hashemite throne was his brother, the prince hassan. In early 1999, on the verge of death from cancer, Hussein I changed his mind and named his son Abdullah as his successor, who after being sworn in as king before Parliament made the Palestinian Rania his queen—the widow Noor from Jordan He immediately left for his native country, the United States.
As soon as he could, Abdullah II approved a royal decree naming his 18-year-old half-brother as crown prince, Hamzehthe late king’s favourite son and his stepmother, Noor. But over time Rania pulled strings to assert the first blood right of her firstborn, Hussein, who was designated the new heir to the throne – a move that further cooled the already distant relationship between the current kings and Noor, who today lives away from the media spotlight and dedicated to charitable work.
Critical moment
This game of thrones reached its most tense moment in 2021when The coup attempt by Prince Hamzah, former heir to the throne, took place, who claimed to have acted this way when he was dissatisfied with the country’s political line. “This has not been the toughest or most dangerous challenge for the stability of the nation, but it has been the most painful,” Abalá assured then in a televised speech. “He has committed to the Hashemite dynasty to remain loyal and to subordinate his interests to the Constitution and laws of Jordan […]. Hamzah is under my guardianship, in his palace along with his family.”
After the storm came calm for Prince Hussein, who was fifteen years old when he was proclaimed heir and has had his own agenda since 2015. This Friday, June 28 celebrates his 30th birthday, just when he is going through one of the sweetest moments with his wifewhom he met through an old friend from school. “I consider myself lucky because it’s not every day that you meet someone like Rajwa,” said the heir in an interview, who has recently kept a low profile, among other things due to the decision of the Jordanian royal family to reduce its official schedule due to the war in Gaza.
Last April, The couple announced that they are expecting their first child, who will be born this summer.. A few days later, Rania shared with her followers on social networks a message to congratulate Rajwa’s birthday, who after her wedding was granted the title of Her Royal Highness. “May God continue to bless and nourish the bond between us,” she wrote about her daughter-in-law, with whom she apparently shares a taste for Western luxury brands and a certain ambitious character.
The long shadow of Rania of Jordan
The royal couple does not have an easy task ahead of them. The influence of Rania of Jordan, one of the most followed, admired and applauded queens, is still very present. Both in her appearances outside her country, especially for her stylistic choices, and in her activism in recent times. The war taking place in Gaza has made Rania of Jordan decide to take a stand and take sides. Something we are not too used to in European monarchies. There are few occasions when the closest kings and queens take a stand on hot topics.
Rania has given interviews, made television appearances and has not been shy about giving her position. Aware that the eyes of the world were on her country, she wanted to respond forcefully. Her personal story also differs from many of her predecessors. Rania had a background in business administration and a career with international studies. A weight that she wanted to transfer to her reign, where she has actively participated, created initiatives and tried to claim a different place in a society as complex as Jordan.
