Category Archives: Jordanian Royals

Wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Rajwa Al Saif

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2023

On June 1, 2023, Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan married Rajwa Al Saif at Zahran Palace in Amman, Jordan.

Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan

Credit – Wikipedia

Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah of Jordan was born at the King Hussein Medical Center in Amman, Jordan on June 28, 1994, the eldest child of the then Prince Abdullah bin Hussein and Rania al Yassin. His father was the eldest son of King Hussein I of Jordan and his second wife Princess Muna al-Hussein, born Antoinette Gardiner in the United Kingdom. When King Hussein I died on February 7, 1999, Abdullah became King of Jordan and respected his father’s wishes, appointing his half-brother Hamzah Crown Prince. In 2004, King Abdullah II stripped Hamzah of the Crown Prince title. As he did not name a replacement, this made Hussein his father’s heir-apparent under the existing succession laws. On July 2, 2009, King Abdullah II issued a decree formally granting Hussein the title of Crown Prince.

Crown Prince Hussein has three younger siblings:

  • Princess Iman (born 1996), married Jameel Thermiotis, born Dimitrios Alejandro Thermiótis Hernández
  • Princess Salma (born 2000)
  • Prince Hashem (born 2005)

Crown Prince Hussein completed his secondary education at King’s Academy in Madaba-Manja, Jordan in 2012. In 2016, the Crown Prince graduated from Georgetown University in Washington DC with a degree in international history. In August 2017, Crown Prince Hussein graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, a family tradition.

Crown Prince Hussein often attends state and military functions with his father and takes an active interest in the welfare of the Jordanian people. He has also served as Regent when his father is out of the country.

Rajwa Al Saif

Credit – Wikipedia

Born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on April 28, 1994, Rajwa Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif is the youngest of the four children of Khalid Al Saif and his wife Azza Al Sudairi. Rajwa’s father is the CEO of the Al Saif Group, a privately-owned company with a diverse portfolio of healthcare, construction, and security services businesses. Rajwa is a member of the Al Saif family which dates back to the Subai tribe in the town of Al-Attar in Sudair, Najd, Saudi Arabia, where her ancestors were the sheikhs of the town.

After completing her primary and secondary education in Saudi Arabia, Rajwa attended the School of Architecture at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, in the United States, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture. In addition, Rajwa also holds a degree in Visual Communications from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, California, in the United States. Rajwa was employed by an architecture firm in Los Angeles, California, and at the time of her engagement, she was employed by Designlab Experience, a design studio in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Engagement

Crown Prince Hussein giving Rajwa Al Saif the engagement ring; Credit – Royal Hashemite Court

On August 17, 2022, the Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan announced the engagement of Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif. The engagement ceremony, where Hussein presented Rajwa with a pear-shaped Harry Winston diamond ring, took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at Rajwa’s family home and was attended by members of the Al Saif family and the following members of the Jordanian royal family:

  • King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, Crown Prince Hussein’s parents
  • Prince Hassan bin Talal, Crown Prince Hussein’s paternal great-uncle
  • Prince Hashem bin Abdullah, Crown Prince Hussein’s brother
  • Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, Crown Prince Hussein’s paternal half-uncle
  • Prince Hashim bin Al Hussein, Crown Prince Hussein’s paternal half-uncle
  • Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, Crown Prince Hussein’s paternal first cousin once removed
  • Prince Rashid bin El Hassan, Crown Prince Hussein’s paternal first cousin once removed

Pre-Wedding Celebrations

The Henna Party – Rajwa Al Saif and Queen Rania enjoying the entertainment; Credit – Queen Rania Official Website

On May 22, 2023, Queen Rania hosted a traditional henna party in honor of Rajwa Al Saif at the
Madareb Bani Hashem, located at Raghadan Palace. A henna party, a significant pre-wedding celebration that many cultures celebrate, is usually held several days before the wedding. The bride, her female relatives, and her friends celebrate the upcoming wedding by having a professional henna artist apply beautiful, elaborate designs on their hands and feet. Older women may offer guidance and wisdom to the bride-to-be as she begins her married life.

Rajwa’s henna party was a joyous affair, with traditional music and dancing. Traditional Jordanian and Saudi songs were performed by Nedaa Shrara, Diana Karazon, and Zain Awad, with performances by the Haleem Musical Group, the Al-Salt Girls Band, and the Misk Dance Company. The henna party was followed by a dinner hosted by Queen Rania, who gave a speech in honor of her soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

Hussein (standing in the black shirt) with the guests at the groom’s shower; Credit – Crown Prince Hussein Instagram

On May 31, 2023, Hussein’s first cousin Prince Omar bin Faisal, hosted a groom’s shower attended by male relatives and friends. That evening, King Abdullah II hosted a dinner party in honor of the wedding at the Royal Madareb Bani Hashem, located at Raghadan Palace. Over 4,000 male guests attended the dinner party that showcased the culture of Jordan’s Hashemite rulers. The guests included representatives of Jordan’s tribes, Circassian and Chechen communities, members of civil society organizations, businesspeople, youth figures, former and current government officials, and army and security agencies personnel.

Wedding Guests – A Partial List

Guests at the wedding ceremony; Credit – Royal Hashemite Court

There were 140 guests at the wedding ceremony and over 1,700 guests at the wedding reception so not all the guests attended the wedding ceremony. The guests in bold below attended the wedding ceremony.

Relatives of the Groom

  • King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, the groom’s parents
  • Princess Iman bint Abdullah and Jameel Alexander Thermiótis, the groom’s sister and brother-in-law
  • Princess Salma bint Abdullah, the groom’s sister
  • Prince Hashem bin Abdullah, the groom’s brother
  • Princess Muna Al Hussein, the groom’s paternal grandmother
  • Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein and Princess Zeina Al Feisal, the groom’s paternal uncle and his wife
  • Princess Aisha bint Al Hussein, the groom’s paternal aunt
  • Princess Zein bint Al Hussein, the groom’s paternal aunt
  • Princess Alia bint Al Hussein, the groom’s paternal half-aunt
  • Prince Ali bin Al Hussein and Princess Rym Ali, the groom’s paternal half-uncle and his wife
  • Prince Hashim bin Al Hussein and Princess Fahdah Al Hashim, the groom’s paternal half-uncle and his wife
  • Princess Raiyah bint Al Hussein and Faris Ned Donovan, the groom’s paternal half-aunt and her husband
  • Princess Firyal, the groom’s former paternal great-aunt
  • Prince Talal bin Muhammad and Princess Ghida Talal, the groom’s paternal first cousin once removed and his wife
  • Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad and Princess Miriam Ghazi, the groom’s paternal first cousin once removed and his wife
  • Princess Taghrid Muhammad, the groom’s paternal great-aunt
  • Prince Hassan bin Talal and Princess Sarvath El Hassan, the groom’s paternal great-uncle and his wife
  • Princess Rahma bint El Hassan, the groom’s paternal first cousin once removed
  • Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, the groom’s paternal first cousin once removed
  • Prince Rashid bin El Hassan and Princess Zeina Rashid, the groom’s paternal first cousin once removed and his wife
  • Princess Basma bint Talal, the groom’s paternal great-aunt
  • Ilham Al-Yassin, the groom’s maternal grandmother
  • Dina Al-Yassin and Sherif Zoubi, the groom’s maternal aunt and her husband
  • Majdi Al-Yassin and Rym Haurani, the groom’s maternal uncle and his wife

Relatives of the Bride

  • Khaled Al Saif and Azza Al Sudairi, the bride’s parents
  • Faisal Al Saif, the bride’s brother
  • Nayef Al Saif, the bride’s brother
  • Dana Al Saif, the bride’s sister

Foreign Royalty – Current Monarchies

  • Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, representing his father Sheikh Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, and his brother Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain
  • King Philippe of the Belgians and his daughter and heir apparent The Duchess of Brabant
  • Queen Jetsun of Bhutan, representing her husband King King Jigme Singye Wangchuck of Bhutan, and her sister-in-law Princess Euphelma Choden of Bhutan
  • Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei and his son Prince ‘Abdul Mateen of Brunei
  • Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and his wife Crown Princess Mary, representing his mother Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
  • Princess Takamado of Japan, representing Emperor Naruhito of Japan, and her daughter Princess Tsuguko of Takamado
  • Sheikh Ahmad Al Abdullah Al Sabah of Kuwait and Sheikha Muna Al-Klaib of Kuwait, representing Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait
  • Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and his wife Hereditary Princess Sophie, representing his father Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein
  • Prince Johann Wenzel of Liechtenstein and his wife Princess Felicitas of Liechtenstein
  • Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg, representing his father Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg
  • The Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and his wife Raja Permaisuri Agong
  • King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his wife Queen Máxima
  • The Princess of Orange, daughter and heir apparent of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
  • Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, representing his father King Harald V of Norway
  • Crown Prince Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said of Oman, representing his father Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said of Oman
  • Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned of Qatar, representing her son Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and her son Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani
  • King Juan Carlos I of Spain and his wife Queen Sofía of Spain, representing their son King Felipe VI of Spain
  • Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her husband Prince Daniel, representing her father King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
  • Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, representing his father Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales, representing his father King Charles III of the United Kingdom
  • Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Mapelli Mozzi, niece of King Charles III of the United Kingdom, and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

Foreign Royalty – Former Monarchies

  • Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria, his wife Tsaritsa Margarita, their son Kyril, Prince of Preslav, and his partner Katharine Butler
  • Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece
  • Empress Farah of Iran
  • Princess Margareta of Romania, Custodian of the Crown of Romania and her husband Prince Radu

Jordan Government Officials

  • Bisher Khasawneh, Prime Minister of Jordan and his wife Rana Sultan
  • Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister of Jordan, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Dignitaries

  • Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League and his wife Leila Aboul Gheit
  • Philippa Karsera, First Lady of Cyprus
  • Entissar el-Sisi, First Lady of Egypt and her daughter Aya el-Sisi
  • Abdul Latif and Shanaz Rashid, President and First Lady of Iraq
  • Barham and Sarbagh Salih, former President and First Lady of Iraq
  • Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, former Prime Minister of Iraq
  • Masoud Barzani, former President of Iraqi Kurdistan
  • Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan
  • Matteo Renzi, former Prime Minister of Italy and his wife Agnese Landini
  • Najib Mikati, Prime Minister of Lebanon and his wife May Mikati
  • Bilawal Bhutto, Foreign Minister of Pakistan
  • Paul and Jeannette Kagame, President and First Lady of Rwanda
  • David Cameron, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and his wife Samantha Cameron
  • Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States and her daughter Ashley Biden
  • Nancy Pelosi, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives and her husband Paul Pelosi

Other Notable Guests

  • Carole Middleton, mother of The Princess of Wales
  • Philippa and James Matthews, sister and brother-in-law of The Princess of Wales
  • Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner

Wedding Attire

 

Rajwa wore a custom white silk crepe gown by Lebanese designer Elie Saab with long sleeves, an asymmetric neckline, and a draped bodice. The curve-hugging dress featured a long train with cut-out flowers and pearl details. Rajwa wore sensible, pointed-toe white flats. Her hair was styled in loose curls, topped with a diamond tiara, holding the flowing veil in place.

Crown Prince Hussein wore a military uniform with black, white, and red military regalia complete with gold embellishments.

The Wedding Ceremony

Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif were married in an Islamic marriage ceremony known as “katb ktab” at the gazebo in the gardens of Zahran Palace. The 140 guests who attended the wedding ceremony were individually welcomed by King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, the groom’s parents, before proceeding to the gazebo in the palace garden.

At the front of the gazebo was a three-sided seating area for the bride and groom, the imam who would preside over the wedding ceremony, the father of the groom, and the father of the bride, who would serve as witnesses. King Abdullah II sat on the right side. Rajwa’s father Khaled Al Saif sat on the left side next to Royal Hashemite Court Imam Dr. Ahmed Al Khalaileh. After the guests were seated, Crown Prince Hussein arrived alone, dressed in a military uniform, and sat in the middle section, near his father, to await the arrival of his bride.


Prince Hashem escorts the bride as his sisters Princess Iman and Princess Salma follow;  Credit – Royal Hashemite Court

Crown Prince Hussein’s three younger siblings accompanied Rajwa to Zahran Palace and walked with her as she made her way to her groom waiting in the gazebo. Prince Hashem (age 18) escorted Rajwa, Princess Iman (age 26) and Princess Salma (age 22) followed behind the bride, fixing her dress train and veil as she made her way through the garden to the gazebo. Rajwa walked down the aisle accompanied by Prince Hashem. Princess Iman and Princess Salma followed behind, adjusting the bride’s train several times. Rajwa sat next to Hussein, close to her father.

Royal Hashemite Court Imam Dr. Ahmed Al Khalaileh and Crown Prince Hussein look on as Rajwa signs the marriage contract; Credit – Royal Hashemite Court

Royal Hashemite Court Imam Dr. Ahmed Al Khalaileh, who was appointed to his position in January 2021, presided over the wedding ceremony. Hussein and Rajwa signed the marriage contracts with their fathers acting as their two witnesses. In addition, Prince Hassan, King Hussein’s I’s only surviving brother and Crown Prince Hussein’s great-uncle, signed the marriage contract.

Wedding ring exchange; Credit – Royal Hashemite Court

Before exchanging rings, Hussein and Rajwa recited the first verse from the Quran: “In the name of God (Allah), the Compassionate and Merciful. Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds, the Compassionate and Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement. Thee we worship and from Thee we seek help. Guide us upon the straight path, the path of those whom Thou hast blessed, not of those who incur wrath, nor of those who are astray.”

When the wedding ceremony was over, a few women performed the Zaghrata, an ululation traditionally used to express happiness at Jordanian and Arab celebrations. The newlyweds kissed each other on the cheeks and exited to the garden where they greeted the wedding guests. Then they traveled in a motorcade, through the streets of Amman, where huge crowds turned out to greet them, ultimately arriving at Al Husseiniya Palace, where their wedding reception took place.

 

The first fifty-five minutes of the YouTube video below show the arrival of the wedding guests, the arrival of the groom and bride, and the wedding ceremony.

The Wedding Reception

The bride and the groom arrive at the wedding reception; Credit – Royal Hashemite Court

The wedding reception was held at Al Husseiniya Palace, which was built in 2006, and houses the offices of King Abdullah II, Queen Rania, and Crown Prince Hussein. Over 1,700 guests attended the wedding reception.

The arrival of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa was announced with the customary zaffa or wedding march played by the Jordan Armed Forces Musical Band, with drums, bagpipes, singing, and clapping. The couple passed below an Arch of Sabers as they made their way to the outdoor reception courtyard. The newlyweds ascended the stage and were joined by King Abdullah II and Queen Rania and Rajwa’s parents Khaled Al Saif and Azza Al Sudairi to greet the over 1,700 guests.

 

The reception included performances from the national orchestra, a choir, local and regional singers, and Jordanian bands and dance troops, one of which performed the Dabkeh, a Levantine Arab folk dance. Tributes were paid to the groom’s military career and the bride’s Saudi Arabian heritage, and of course, there was the cutting of the wedding cake.

King Abdullah II, Queen Rania, Crown Prince Hussein, and Princess Rajwa with distinguished guests at the wedding reception; Credit – Royal Hashemite Court

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Armani, Syed. (2023) What to know about the Jordanian Crown Prince’s Wedding, Time. Available at: https://time.com/6283682/jordan-hashemite-royal-wedding/ (Accessed: 05 July 2023).
  • Inside the Jordanian royal wedding of HRH Crown Prince Hussein and HRH Princess Rajwa al-Saif (2023) Vogue Arabia. Available at: https://en.vogue.me/culture/jordanian-royal-wedding-crown-prince-hussein-rajwa-al-saif-pictures/ (Accessed: 05 July 2023).
  • Rajwa al Saif Henna Night: What happens at a Henna Party? (2023) Available at: https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/culture/royal-watch/royal-henna-party (Accessed: 05 July 2023).
  • Queen Rania Hosts Dinner Party in Celebration of Crown Prince Al Hussein and Miss Rajwa’s Upcoming Wedding: Queen Rania (2023) Queen Rania Official Website. Available at: https://www.queenrania.jo/en/media/press-releases/queen-rania-hosts-dinner-party-celebration-crown-prince-al-hussein-and-miss (Accessed: 05 July 2023).
  • Statement from the Royal Hashemite Court (2023) Statement from the Royal Hashemite Court | Royal Hashemite Court. Available at: https://rhc.jo/en/media/news/statement-royal-hashemite-court-12 (Accessed: 05 July 2023).
  • زفاف الأمير الحسين ورجوة آل سيف (Wedding of Hussein, Crown_Prince of Jordan, and Rajwa Al Saif) (2023) Wikipedia (Arabic). Available at: https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B2%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%81_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86_%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%A9_%D8%A2%D9%84_%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%81 (Accessed: 05 July 2023).
  • Wedding of Hussein, Crown Prince of Jordan, and Rajwa Al Saif (2023) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_of_Hussein,_Crown_Prince_of_Jordan,_and_Rajwa_Al_Saif (Accessed: 05 July 2023).

Princess Rajwa Al Hussein, wife of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Rajwa Al Saif and Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan; Credit – Queen Rania of Jordan Facebook page

Born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on April 28, 1994, Rajwa Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif is the youngest of the four children of Khalid Al Saif and his wife Azza Al Sudairi. Rajwa’s father is the CEO of the Al Saif Group, a privately-owned company with a diverse portfolio of healthcare, construction, and security services businesses. Rajwa is a member of the Al Saif family which dates back to the Subai tribe in the town of Al-Attar in Sudair, Najd, Saudi Arabia, where her ancestors were the sheikhs of the town.

After completing her primary and secondary education in Saudi Arabia, Rajwa attended the School of Architecture at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, in the United States, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture. In addition, Rajwa also holds a degree in Visual Communications from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, California, in the United States. Rajwa was employed by an architecture firm in Los Angeles, California, and at the time of her engagement, she was employed by Designlab Experience, a design studio in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

On August 17, 2022, the Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan announced the engagement of the heir apparent of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan, the elder son of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, and Rajwa Al Saif. The couple was married on June 1, 2023, at Zahran Palace in Amman, Jordan. About thirty minutes after the wedding ceremony, the Royal Household issued a decree elevating Rajwa to a Princess of Jordan with the style and title Her Royal Highness Princess Rajwa Al Hussein. The title Crown Princess is not typically used in Jordan.

As the wife of the Crown Prince, Princess Rajwa will represent King Abdullah II on official engagements in Jordan and in foreign countries and will attend activities related to social and charitable projects.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Harpers Bazaar. 2022. Who is Rajwa Al Saif, Crown Prince Hussein’s Fiancée? The Couple Announce Their Engagement. [online] Available at: <https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/culture/royal-watch/who-is-rajwa-al-saif> [Accessed 18 August 2022].
  • Linning, Stephanie, 2022. Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan is engaged. [online] Mail Online. Available at: <https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11123053/Crown-Prince-Hussein-Jordan-engaged-Saudi-businessmans-daughter-Rajwa-Al-Seif.html> [Accessed 18 August 2022].
  • Pt.wikipedia.org. 2022. Rajwa Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif – Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre. [online] Available at: <https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajwa_Khaled_bin_Musaed_bin_Saif_bin_Abdulaziz_Al_Saif> [Accessed 18 August 2022].
  • Rhc.jo. 2022. Crown Prince engaged to Rajwa Al Saif. [online] Available at: <https://rhc.jo/en/media/news/crown-prince-engaged-rajwa-al-saif> [Accessed 18 August 2022].
  • The National. 2022. Who is Rajwa Al Saif, the Saudi fiancee of Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein?. [online] Available at: <https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/2022/08/18/who-is-rajwa-al-saif-fiance-of-jordans-crown-prince-hussein/> [Accessed 18 August 2022].

Assassination of Abdullah I, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (1951)

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2020

On July 20, 1951, King Abdullah I was shot and killed while attending prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Jordan. He was succeeded by his eldest son, King Talal.

King Abdullah I of Jordan. source: Wikipedia

King Abdullah I

King Abdullah was the first King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He was born in February 1882 to the Emir of Mecca and his first wife. Following the Great Arab Revolt in 1916, Abdullah was named King of Iraq but he refused the throne. The Iraqi throne went instead to his brother Faisal. In 1921, Abdullah was recognized by the United Kingdom as Emir of Transjordan, a British protectorate. In 1946, Transjordan ceased to be a British protectorate and became the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan (later renamed Jordan in 1949), with Abdullah as its first King. He had three wives and five children, including his successor, King Talal. The only Arab ruler to accept the UN’s plan for Palestine, Abdullah later took part in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, annexing the territories of the West Bank captured by Jordanian troops in Palestine. He later entered into secret peace negotiations with Israel, which likely led to his assassination.

For more information, see Unofficial Royalty: King Abdullah I of Jordan

The Assassin – Mustafa Shukri Ashu

Mustafa Shukri Ashu was a 21-year old tailor’s apprentice, who was described as a “former terrorist” and had been recruited to kill the King. While he was the one who pulled the trigger, ten men were tried for the part in the assassination, including Colonel Abdullah at-Tell who had been the Governor of Jerusalem, and Musa Ahmad al-Ayubbi, a vegetable merchant. At-Tell and al-Ayubbi were found guilty and sentenced to death, despite having fled the country.

The Assassination

Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem. photo: By Andrew Shiva / Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29652325

On July 16, 1951, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, Riad Bey Al Solh, was assassinated in Amman, Jordan. Four days later, on July 20, King Abdullah – accompanied by his grandson, the future King Hussein – traveled to Jerusalem to attend Al Solh’s funeral at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. While waiting for Friday prayers to begin, the king was approached by a Palestinian activist, Mustafa Shukri Ashu, who fired three shots, hitting the king in the chest and head and killing him instantly. The young Hussein was also caught in the gunfire – miraculously escaping harm when a bullet ricocheted off a medal he was wearing at his grandfather’s insistence.

What happened to King Abdullah?

The mausoleum of King Abdullah I (center)

The King died instantly from his wounds. His body was returned quickly to Amman, where his funeral and burial took place. As his son and successor, Talal, was in a hospital in Switzerland being treated for mental illness, Abdullah’s second son, Naif, was appointed as Regent until Talal could return to Jordan. Naif, along with the Regent of Iraq, presided over the funeral services, after which Abdullah’s body was interred in a mausoleum at the Royal cemetery near Raghadan Palace.

Abdullah’s grandson, King Hussein, circa 1953. source: Wikipedia

Just a year later, Talal was forced to abdicate due to his mental illness and was succeeded by his eldest son, King Hussein, who was just 16 years old at the time.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Queen Zein of Jordan

by Susan Flantzer © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

The wife of King Talal and the mother of King Hussein I, Zein al-Sharaf bint Jamal was born on August 2, 1916, in Alexandria, Egypt. She was the eldest of the two children of Sharif Jamal bin Nasser, Governor of Hauran and Wijdan Hanim. Her father was the nephew of Sharif Hussein bin Ali of Mecca  (the father of King Abdullah I of Jordan) and her mother was the daughter of Shakir Pasha, Governor of Cyprus. Zein had one brother and one sister:

  • Sharif Nasser bin Jamal (1927 – 1979), Commander-in-Chief of the Jordanian Armed Forces
  • Sharifa Nafea bint Jamal

On November 27, 1934, Zein married her first cousin Prince Talal bin Abdullah, the eldest son of the future King Abdullah I of Jordan. The couple had six children:

Zein’s four surviving children: Hassan, Hussein, Basma, and Muhammad; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

On July 20, 1951, Talal’s father, King Abdullah I of Jordan was assassinated as he entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem, probably because of his moderate attitude towards Israel. The assassin was Mustapha Shukri Usho, a 21-year-old tailor from Jerusalem who belonged to a group that wanted to prevent a permanent division of Palestine by Jordan and Israel. King Abdullah had been accompanied by Zein’s 15-year-old eldest son, the future King Hussein I of Jordan.  Hussein was at his grandfather’s side and was hit too, but a medal that had been pinned to Hussein’s chest at his grandfather’s insistence deflected the bullet and saved his life.

At the time of his father’s death, Talal was in a sanatorium in Switzerland being treated for a nervous breakdown. At first, it was unsure whether Talal would succeed his father due to his mental condition, but on September 5, 1951, he was proclaimed King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Zein became Queen Zein al-Sharaf Talal. On June 4, 1952, the Jordanian Cabinet announced that it was necessary to form a Regency Council because Talal’s condition had worsened despite the treatment he was receiving in Switzerland. The Jordanian Parliament declared Talal mentally unfit on August 11, 1952, and proclaimed his eldest son Hussein as king.

 

Queen Zein played a major role in the formation of the Jordanian state. In 1944, Zein founded the first women’s association in Jordan. She established the women’s branch of the Jordanian Red Crescent (affiliated with the Red Cross) in 1948 and organized assistance to Palestinian refugees during the Arab-Israeli war in 1949. She participated in the writing of the Jordan Constitution in 1952, which guaranteed women’s rights. After the assassination of King Abdullah I in 1951, Zein held the power while the newly proclaimed King Talal was treated outside the country. She again took the reins of power in August 1952, when her son Hussein was proclaimed king, until May 1953, when he turned eighteen and assumed full constitutional duties. During the reign of her son, King Hussein I, Zein was an influential figure behind the scenes.

Queen Zein died on April 26, 1994, at the age of 86 in a hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland where she was being treated for a heart ailment. She was buried the next day at the Royal Cemetery, near Raghadan Palace within the Royal Compound (Al-Maquar).

Princess Basma, Queen Zein’s daughter, visits her mother’s tomb on the anniversary of her death; Photo Credit – http://www.jordantimes.com

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Works Cited:

  • Ar.wikipedia.org. (2017). زين الشرف بنت جميل. [online] Available at: https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%86_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%81_%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%AA_%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%84 [Accessed 26 Jul. 2017].
  • En.wikipedia.org. (2017). Zein Al-Sharaf Talal. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zein_Al-Sharaf_Talal [Accessed 26 Jul. 2017].
  • PACE, E. (2017). Mother of King Of Jordan Is Dead at 86. [online] Nytimes.com. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/27/obituaries/mother-of-king-of-jordan-is-dead-at-86.html [Accessed 26 Jul. 2017].
  • Ru.wikipedia.org. (2017). Зейн аш-Шараф Талал. [online] Available at: https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%97%D0%B5%D0%B9%D0%BD_%D0%B0%D1%88-%D0%A8%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%84_%D0%A2%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BB [Accessed 26 Jul. 2017].
  • Unofficial Royalty. (2017). King Talal of Jordan. [online] Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/king-talal-of-jordan/ [Accessed 26 Jul. 2017].

King Talal of Jordan

by Susan Flantzer © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

King Talal of Jordan was born on February 26, 1909, in Mecca in the Hejaz, then part of the Ottoman Empire, now part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He was the only son and the second of the three children of the first King of Jordan, Abdullah I and his first and senior wife Musbah bint Nasser, the first Queen Consort of Jordan.

Talal had two full sisters:

  • Princess Haya (1907 – 1990), married Prince Abdul-Karim Ja’afar Zeid Dhaoui
  • Princess Munira (1915 – 1987), unmarried

Talal had two half-siblings from his father’s second wife Suzdil Khanum:

  • Prince Nayef (1914 – 1983), Princess Mihrimah Selcuk Sultana, had two sons
  • Princess Maqbula (1921 – 2001), married Prince Hussein bin Nasser, Prime Minister of Jordan, had one son and one daughter

Talal’s father had a third wife, Nahda bint Uma, but they had no children.

Talal was educated privately in Amman, Jordan. In 1927, he joined the Arab Legion, the regular army of Transjordan and then Jordan in the early part of the 20th century. From 1928-1929, he studied at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom. Talal served as an aide to his grandfather Hussein ibn Ali al-Hashim during his exile in Cyprus and then in Amman, Jordan. In 1933, Talal was promoted to the rank of Major in the Arab Legion, followed by promotions to Major-General (1941) and General (1948).

In 1934, Talal married his first cousin Zein Al Sharaf Bint Jamal. The couple had six children:

Talal’s four surviving children: Hassan, Hussein, Basma, and Muhammad; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

On July 20, 1951, Talal’s father, 69-year-old King Abdullah I of Jordan was assassinated as he entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem, probably because of his moderate attitude towards Israel. The assassin was Mustapha Shukri Usho, a 21-year-old tailor from Jerusalem who belonged to a group that wanted to prevent a permanent division of Palestine by Jordan and Israel. King Abdullah had been accompanied by Talal’s 15-year-old eldest son, the future King Hussein I of Jordan.  Hussein was at his grandfather’s side and was hit too, but a medal that had been pinned to Hussein’s chest at his grandfather’s insistence deflected the bullet and saved his life.

At the time of his father’s death, Talal was in a sanatorium in Switzerland being treated for a nervous breakdown. At first, it was unsure whether Talal would succeed his father due to his mental condition, but on September 5, 1951, he was proclaimed King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. On June 4, 1952, the Jordanian Cabinet announced that it was necessary to form a Regency Council because Talal’s condition had worsened despite the treatment he was receiving in Switzerland. The Jordanian Parliament declared Talal mentally unfit on August 11, 1952, and proclaimed his eldest son Hussein King of Jordan.

Talal died on July 7, 1972, in Istanbul, Turkey where he had spent the last years of his life in a sanatorium reportedly being treated for schizophrenia. He was buried in a mausoleum at the Royal Cemetery, near Raghadan Palace within the Royal Compound (Al-Maquar) in Amman, Jordan.

Royal Cemetery – Tombs of Kings Talal, Abdullah I, and Hussein I

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Works Cited

  • En.wikipedia.org. (2017). Talal of Jordan. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talal_of_Jordan [Accessed 24 Jul. 2017].
  • King Hussein I of Jordan. [online] Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/february-7-1999-death-of-king-hussein-of-jordan/ [Accessed 24 Jul. 2017].
  • Nytimes.com. (2017). Ex‐King Talal of Jordan Dies; Abdicated in ’52 in Favor of Son. [online] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/1972/07/09/archives/exig-tat-t-of-jod-di-i-abdiated-in-52-in-favor-of-soni.html [Accessed 24 Jul. 2017].
  • Unofficial Royalty. (2017). Jordanian Royal Burial Sites. [online] Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/royal-burial-sites/jordanian-royal-burial-sites/ [Accessed 23 Jul. 2017].

King Abdullah I of Jordan

by Susan Flantzer © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

A Brief Background History: Transjordan was once part of the Ottoman Empire and became part of Palestine in 1917. In 1921, Transjordan became an autonomous division of Palestine under the leadership of Sharif Abdullah bin al-Hussein who then became Emir of Transjordan. Abdullah bin al-Hussein was the son of Hussein bin Ali, Sharif and Emir of Mecca,  who was instrumental in starting the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire. In 1916, Hussein bin Ali proclaimed himself King of Hejaz, a region of present-day Saudi Arabia, and also declared himself King of all Arabs. This last move enraged another Arab leader, Abdul Aziz Al Saud,  who defeated Hussein bin Ali in 1924, caused him to abdicate the throne of Hejaz, and then became the first King of Saudi Arabia. Hussein bin Ali’s three sons all became kings: Ali was briefly was King of Hejaz, Abdullah was King of Jordan, and Faisal was King of Iraq and Syria. Faisal was an important figure in the revolt against the Ottoman Empire and received assistance from British Army Captain T. E. Lawrence,  better known as Lawrence of Arabia. In 1946, Transjordan became a kingdom, Emir Abdullah was proclaimed the king, and the name of the country was changed from the Emirate of Transjordan to the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan. In 1948, the Parliament of Transjordan approved the creation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which is the complete name of the country.

King Abdullah I of Jordan was the first King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He was born His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah bin al-Hussein of Mecca and Hejaz in February 1882 in Mecca, Hejaz, Ottoman Empire, the third of the five children and the second of three sons of Hussein bin Ali, Sharif and Emir of Mecca and his first wife Abdiyya Khanum. Mecca is now in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Abdullah in 1886 wearing a military uniform; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Abdullah had four full siblings:

Abdullah had one half-sister by his father’s second wife Madiha Khanum:

  • Princess Saleha, married Abdullah bin Muhammed

Abdullah had one half-sister and one half-brother by his father’s third wife Adila Khanum:

Abdullah with his two full-brothers: Seated in the front row from left to right: King Ali of the Hijaz, King Abdullah of Jordan, King Faisal of Iraq; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Abdullah had three wives. His first wife Musbah bint Nasser was the first Queen Consort of Jordan and Abdullah’s senior wife.

In 1904, Abdullah married his first wife Musbah bint Nasser. They had three children:

In 1913, Abdullah married his second wife Suzdil Khanum in 1913. They had two children:

  • Prince Nayef (1914 – 1983), Princess Mihrimah Selcuk Sultana, had two sons
  • Princess Maqbula (1921 – 2001), married Prince Hussein bin Nasser, Prime Minister of Jordan, had one son and one daughter

In 1949, Abdullah married his third wife Nahda bint Uman in 1949. They had no children.

In 1916, Abdullah took part in the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottomans with his brother Faisal. As a result, Abdullah was proclaimed King of Iraq on March 8, 1920, and on the same day, Faisal was proclaimed King of Syria. However, Abdullah refused the throne of Iraq. After his refusal, Faisal, who had just been defeated in Syria and was in need of a kingdom, accepted the position. In 1921, Abdullah was recognized by the United Kingdom as the Emir of Transjordan under British protectorate. In May 1946, Transjordan was released from the status of a British protectorate and recognized as the independent nation of Jordan and Abdullah became the first King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan (renamed the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1949). In 1947, Abdullah was the only Arab ruler to accept the United Nation’s plan for Palestine. However, Jordan took part in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and annexed the territories of the West Bank captured by the Jordanian troops in Palestine.

King Abdullah I of Jordan declaring independence, May 25, 1946; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

On July 20, 1951, 69-year-old King Abdullah I of Jordan was assassinated as he entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem, probably because of his moderate attitude towards Israel. The assassin was Mustapha Shukri Usho, a 21-year-old tailor from Jerusalem who belonged to a group that wanted to prevent a permanent division of Palestine by Jordan and Israel. King Abdullah had been accompanied by his 15-year-old grandson, the future King Hussein I of Jordan.  Hussein was at his grandfather’s side and was hit too, but a medal that had been pinned to Hussein’s chest at his grandfather’s insistence deflected the bullet and saved his life. King Abdullah’s son succeeded him as King Talal and Talal’s son Hussein was named Crown Prince. However, King Talal suffered from mental illness and was forced to abdicate just a year later. The 16-year old Crown Prince became King Hussein I with a regency council established until he reached the age of 18.

King Abdullah I was buried in a mausoleum at the Royal Cemetery, near Raghadan Palace within the Royal Compound (Al-Maquar).

Royal Cemetery – Tombs of Kings Talal, Abdullah I, and Hussein I

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Works Cited

  • De.wikipedia.org. (2017). Abdallah ibn Husain I.. [online] Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdallah_ibn_Husain_I. [Accessed 23 Jul. 2017].
  • En.wikipedia.org. (2017). Abdullah I of Jordan. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_I_of_Jordan [Accessed 23 Jul. 2017].
  • Nl.wikipedia.org. (2017). Abdoellah I van Jordanië. [online] Available at: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdoellah_I_van_Jordani%C3%AB [Accessed 23 Jul. 2017].
  • Nytimes.com. (2017). ABDULLAH LABORED TO UNITE NEAR EAST; KING OF JORDAN ON INSPECTION TOUR–ASSASSINATION SITE. [online] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/1951/07/21/archives/abdullah-labored-to-unite-near-east-king-of-jordan-on-inspection-to.html [Accessed 23 Jul. 2017].
  • Times., A. (2017). Abdullah, Jordan King, Slain By an Arab in Old Jerusalem; ABDULLAH IS SLAIN IN OLD JERUSALEM. [online] Nytimes.com. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/1951/07/21/archives/abdullah-jordan-king-slain-by-an-arab-in-old-jerusalem-abdullah-is.html [Accessed 23 Jul. 2017].
  • Unofficial Royalty. (2017). Jordanian Royal Burial Sites. [online] Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/royal-burial-sites/jordanian-royal-burial-sites/ [Accessed 23 Jul. 2017].
  • Unofficial Royalty. (2017). King Hussein I of Jordan. [online] Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/february-7-1999-death-of-king-hussein-of-jordan/ [Accessed 23 Jul. 2017].

Wedding of King Hussein I of Jordan and Lisa Halaby (Queen Noor al-Hussein)

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Image by © Genevieve Chauvel/Sygma/Corbis

King Hussein I of Jordan and Lisa Halaby, known as Queen Noor al-Hussein after her marriage, were married on June 15, 1978, at Zahran Palace in Amman, Jordan, home of the Queen Mother Zein, the mother of King Hussein, and the traditional site of Jordanian royal marriages.

King Hussein’s Background

King Hussein in 1950; Photo Credit – By Willem van de Poll – Nationaal Archief, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30224627

Hussein bin Talal was born November 14, 1935, in Amman, Jordan, the eldest son of the future King Talal bin Abdullah and Zein al-Sharaf Talal. At the time, Hussein’s grandfather was the Emir of Transjordan, becoming Abdullah I, the first King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan in 1946 (the name was later changed to simply ‘Jordan’). Hussein began his education in Amman, after which he attended Victoria College in Alexandria, Egypt. He then attended the Harrow School in England before enrolling in the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

On July 21, 1951, Prince Hussein was accompanying his grandfather King Abdullah I to a mosque in Jerusalem when the king was killed by an assassin’s bullet. Hussein was at his side and was hit too, but a medal that had been pinned to Hussein’s chest at his grandfather’s insistence deflected the bullet and saved his life.

With his father now becoming King, Hussein was named Crown Prince in September 1951. His father King Talal suffered from mental illness and was forced to abdicate just a year later. The 16-year-old Crown Prince became King Hussein I with a regency council established until he reached the age of 18.

King Hussein’s mother Queen Zein played a major role in the early years of her son’s reign, guiding him in both political and personal matters. She arranged his first marriage, when Hussein was just 19 years old, to Sharifa Dina bint ‘Abdu’l-Hamid, a third cousin of his father. The couple separated and were divorced in 1957. They had one daughter: Princess Alia (1956).

The King married a second time in 1961 to the British-born Antoinette Gardiner, who took the title HRH Princess Muna al-Hussein. This marriage, too, ended in divorce in 1971. The couple had four children: King Abdullah II (1962), Prince Feisal (1963), and twins Princess Aisha (1968) and Princess Zein (1968)

In December 1972, the King married Alia Baha ad-Din Toukan, the daughter of a Jordanian diplomat. Upon marriage, she became HM Queen Alia al-Hussein. Tragically, Queen Alia was killed in a helicopter crash in 1977. The couple had two children, as well as an adopted daughter: Princess Haya (1974), Prince Ali (1975), and Abir Muhaisen (1972, adopted in 1976).

Lisa Halaby’s Background

Lisa Najeeb Halaby was born on August 23, 1951, in Washington DC in the United States, the eldest child of Najeeb Halaby and Doris Carlquist. Her father, of Syrian descent, held several prominent positions including head of the Federal Aviation Administration and CEO of the airline Pan Am. Coming from an affluent family, Lisa attended private schools: The National Cathedral School in Washington DC, The Chapin School in New York City, and Concord Academy in Massachusetts. She went on to attend Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, as a member of the first coeducational class, graduating in 1974 with a degree in architecture and urban planning.

The Engagement

In the winter of 1976, Lisa Halaby traveled with her father Najeeb Halaby, then the chairman of the International Advisory Board for Royal Jordanian Airlines, for a ceremony celebrating the purchase of Royal Jordanian Airline’s first Boeing 747. There she met King Hussein and his wife Queen Alia. Around the time of Queen Alia’s tragic death in a helicopter crash on February 9, 1977, Lisa agreed to fill in for an ill manager of her father’s aviation company in Jordan, Arab Air Services, which provided aviation design, engineering, and technical support to Middle East countries.

By the middle of 1977, the ill employee had returned to work and Lisa had been accepted to Columbia University’s School of Journalism. However, she received an interesting job offer. Ali Ghandour, the founder and chairman of Royal Jordanian Airlines, offered Lisa a job heading up a department within Royal Jordanian Airlines to coordinate planning, design, and maintenance of the airline’s facilities in Jordan and throughout the world. It would be a challenging job, but Lisa accepted the challenge, a challenge that would change her life.

In the course of her work, Lisa’s path occasionally passed the path of King Hussein. On April 6, 1977, Lisa’s father insisted that she accompany him to an audience with King Hussein. At the audience, King Hussein asked Lisa if she could come to his home Hashimaya to take a look at some construction problems. A lunch appointment was made for the next day. Little did Lisa know that the next day would be the start of a whirlwind courtship. In her autobiography, Queen Noor wrote: “Hash, 12:30 reads my diary entry for April 7. What it does not say is that I did not get home until 7:30 that evening.”

One week after that first lunch, King Hussein invited Lisa for a weekend at Aqaba, a seaport popular with tourists, with his children and a group of friends. After the weekend, Hussein and Lisa had numerous dinners at his home Hashimaya. They watched videos of films, went on motorcycle rides, and Hussein flew her in his helicopter, but most of all they talked and shared their thoughts and feelings.

On April 28, 1978, King Hussein said that he wanted to see Lisa’s father, and Lisa knew what he meant. The next day, King Hussein went out of the country on official business, but when he returned, he mentioned Lisa’s father in every conversation and finally, with a few chosen words, proposed marriage. For eighteen days, Lisa agonized over the decision, but finally, on May 18, 1978, Lisa agreed to marry King Hussein. Hussein called Lisa’s father at his home in Alpine, New Jersey, and said, “I have the honor to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

The Wedding

Zahran Palace; Photo Credit – The Royal Hashemite Court

King Hussein I of Jordan and Lisa Halaby were married on June 15, 1978, at Zahran Palace in Amman, Jordan, home of Queen Mother Zein, the mother of King Hussein, and the traditional site of royal marriages. King Hussein wanted the marriage to occur as soon as possible but was persuaded to allow some time for family members to come to Amman. King Hussein gave Lisa a new, Arabic name: Noor al-Hussein, “Light of Hussein.”

King Hussein’s secretary commissioned a wedding dress from the French fashion house Dior. Two Dior designers came to Amman with sketches of elaborate wedding dresses, but Noor did not like the dresses. She wanted a simple dress that would be in line with Islamic ideals, so she showed the designers her favorite dress from her own closet, a Bohemian style Yves Saint Laurent boutique dress, and asked the designers to use that style as a model. The final design was a simple white silk crepe dress with a high neckline, long bell sleeves, and a plain long skirt.

During the brief engagement, Noor studied books on Islam and Jordanian history. Her parents had not brought her up in any particular religion. The Jordanian Constitution does not require that the King’s wife be Muslim, but there was no question in Noor’s mind that she would become Muslim. She became a Muslim on the morning of her wedding by proclaiming the testimony of faith: “I declare there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger.” King Hussein decided that Noor would receive the style and title Her Majesty Queen Noor al-Hussein. Only one other of King Hussein’s previous three wives, Queen Alia, had been so honored.

Noor prepared for her wedding in a simple manner. She persuaded the hairdresser to arrange her hair as simple as possible, a band of white flowers holding her long blond hair in place with a simple veil, and she wore no makeup. She partially followed the Western tradition and wore “something blue and something new.” The something blue was a wedding present from her father, a sapphire stick pin from Tiffany. The something new was a pair of diamond drop earrings from a set of jewelry, a gift from Crown Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia. The diamond drop earrings were quite dramatic, so Noor decided to remove the drops and wear only the tops.

Photo Credit – www.kinghussein.gov.jo/

YouTube: King Hussein marries Lisa Halaby

While 500 guests waited on the lawn of the Zahran Palace, Hussein and Noor were married in an oriental-style sitting room in the palace. Noor was the only woman allowed and the witnesses were Noor’s father and brother and the male members of the Jordanian Royal Family. A Muslim wedding ceremony is basically a contract in which the bride and groom agree to the contract and sign it in front of witnesses. Noor and King Hussein sat on a damask settee during the ceremony. They repeated simple marriage vows in Arabic. Noor said: “I have betrothed myself to thee in marriage for the dowry agreed upon.” King Hussein replied: “I have accepted thee as wife, my wife in marriage for the dowry agreed upon.” No rings were exchanged, instead, the vows were sealed by the couple clasping their right hands and looking at each other.

A two-hour reception was held on the lawn of Zahran Palace. The couple emerged from the ceremony to cut the seven-tier, three feet high fruitcake wedding cake with a golden Hashemite sword and then mingled for ten minutes with family members that had gathered to congratulate them. Soft drinks were substituted for champagne at the reception as Islamic law prohibits alcohol. The armed forces band played lively music in the background

The guests included the elite of Jordanian society, the diplomatic corps, government officials, and senior officers of the armed forces. There were no foreign guests except the Halaby family, Mrs. Cyrus Vance, the wife of the then-American Secretary of State, and a handful of Noor’s friends from the United States. One of King Hussein’s former wives, the British-born Princess Muna, was also present.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Khouri, Rami, and Rami Khouri. “Royal Wedding In Amman”. Washington Post. N.p., 2017. Web. 17 May 2017.
  • “King Hussein I Of Jordan”. Unofficial Royalty. N.p., 2017. Web. 17 May 2017.
  • Queen Noor. Leap Of Faith. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003. Print.
  • “Queen Noor Of Jordan”. Unofficial Royalty. N.p., 2017. Web. 17 May 2017.

Wedding of King Abdullah II of Jordan and Rania al-Yassin

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

King Abdullah II of Jordan, then Prince Abdullah of Jordan, and Rania al-Yassin were married on June 10, 1993, at the Zahran Palace in Amman, Jordan.

Photo Credit – The Royal Hashemite Court

King Abdullah II of Jordan’s Background

Abdullah with his father King Hussein I of Jordan; Photo Credit – The Royal Hashemite Court

King Abdullah II of Jordan was born January 30, 1962, in Amman, Jordan, the eldest son of King Hussein I of Jordan and his second wife, British-born Antoinette Gardiner, known as Princess Muna. Abdullah has eleven siblings from his father’s four marriages. At the time of his birth, Abdullah was Crown Prince and heir-apparent to the Jordanian throne. However, in 1965, due to the political unrest in the region, King Hussein instead named his own brother, Prince Hassan, as Crown Prince. The succession laws in Jordan follow agnatic primogeniture, but King Hussein had the constitution changed to allow the reigning King to override the usual line of succession and appoint someone else in the royal family as his heir.

Abdullah began his education at the Islamic Educational College in Amman, Jordan before attending St Edmund’s School in Hindhead, Surrey, England and the Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts in the United States. He then enrolled in the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, attaining the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1981. He served in the British Army in the 13th/18th Royal Hussars Regiment as a reconnaissance troop leader. He returned to Jordan in 1985 and began serving in the Jordanian Armed Forces. By 1993, he had become Commander of the Jordanian Special Forces, and by 1998, had risen to the rank of Major General.

On February 7, 1999, Abdullah became King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan upon the death of his father King Hussein. Just two weeks earlier, King Hussein had stripped his brother Prince Hassan of the title of Crown Prince and named Abdullah as his successor.

Unofficial Royalty: King Abdullah II of Jordan

Rania al-Yassin’s Background

Rania receiving her degree from the American University in Cairo in 1991; Photo Credit – Huffington Post

Rania al-Yassin was born on August 31, 1970, in Kuwait, to Faisal Sedki Al-Yassin and his wife Ilham. Following her primary and secondary education at the New English School in Jabriya, Kuwait, Rania attended The American University in Cairo, Egypt, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. She then attended The School of Business Studies in Geneva Switzerland, earning a post-graduate diploma in Business Management. She worked for a while at Citibank, before taking a job with Apple, Inc. in Jordan.

Unofficial Royalty: Queen Rania of Jordan

The Engagement

Photo Credit – The Royal Hashemite Court

In January 1993, a friend of Rania took her to a dinner party hosted by Prince Abdullah’s sister. “The minute Rania walked in, I knew it right there and then,” said Abdullah in a 2005 interview with People magazine. “It was love at first sight.” A whirlwind courtship began. Abdullah took Rania on motorbike rides across the desert, waterskiing on the Red Sea and flying in helicopters. After a courtship of just two months, King Hussein himself reportedly drove his son to the home of Rania’s parents so Abdullah could propose. With King Hussein and her family looking on, Rania accepted.

The Wedding

Zahran Palace; Photo Credit – The Royal Hashemite Court

Abdullah and Rania were married on June 10, 1993, at the Zahran Palace in Amman, Jordan. Zahran Palace, built in 1957, has become the headquarters for official events involving the Jordanian Royal Family. The wedding day was a national holiday. At the time, Prince Abdullah was not Jordan’s crown prince. That title was held by King Hussein’s brother, Prince Hassan. Still, as the oldest son of King Hussein’s twelve children, Abdullah’s marriage was a grand state occasion and a glittering affair with royalty flying in from around the world to attend.

Rania chose British designer Bruce Oldfield to make her two wedding gowns. For the traditional Muslim ceremony, Rania wore a modest, short-sleeve gown with exaggerated lapels and a large belt. Inspired by Syrian formal dresses at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Oldfield added gold detailing to the trim of the gown, matching hair ornament and gloves. The skirt was voluminous and ended in a train at the back. A long veil covered her face during the Muslim ceremony. Her hairdo was so tall that she had difficulty getting in and out of the car.

Prince Abdullah wore his formal military dress uniform adorned with numerous medals and a ceremonial sword.

Wedding Attire; Photo Credit – http://www.arabiaweddings.com

Queen Rania had five young girls as attendants. They wore dresses with puffed sleeves in a peachy gold color and carried small bouquets of white and yellow flowers tied with yellow bows. Each girl wore a white hairband with flowers fastened at each end. Several young boys, dressed in sailor suits, served as the pages.

Photo Credit – http://www.arabiaweddings.com

The Muslim wedding ceremony is known as a nikah. On the wedding day, the bride and groom are seated in different rooms accompanied by close friends and family. A nikha namah (marriage contract) is presented containing the conditions of the marriage as well as the agreed mahr (mandatory gift promised to the bride by the groom). An imam (Muslim worship leader) or any male knowledgeable in Islam is qualified to perform this ceremony, which involves proposing the wedding match to both parties and announcing their acceptance. Abdullah and Rania’s marriage was performed by King Hussein.

After the marriage, the newlyweds toured the streets of Amman in an open convertible decorated with flowers and bows as they waved at cheering crowds.

For the evening reception, the couple changed into less formal attire. Rania wore a less modest, floor-length white sleeveless gown, also designed by Bruce Oldfield. It featured slender shoulder straps, a V-neck, and a slight plunge in the back. Abdullah wore a short white dinner jacket and dark pants.

Rania and Abdullah at the reception; Photo Credit – http://www.arabiaweddings.com

The wedding cake, which the newlyweds cut with a sword, was multi-tiered with each tier in the shape of a rectangular room decorated with crowns and lace.

Photo Credit – https://www.essensedesigns.com

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • “Flashback: The Royal Wedding Of Queen Rania & King Abdullah II Of Jordan”. Manhattan Madness! The-Manhattan.Net’s Blog. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 May 2017.
  • “King Abdullah II Of Jordan”. Unofficial Royalty. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 May 2017.
  • “MEMORABLE ROMANCE: King Abdullah II & Queen Rania Of Jordan – Good Times”. Good Times. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 May 2017.
  • “Queen Rania Of Jordan”. Unofficial Royalty. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 May 2017.
  • Singh, Gary. “Muslim Wedding Ceremony | Islamic Wedding | Nikah | Guide For Groom”. Entouraaj. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 May 2017.
  • “Wedding Wednesday: Rania’s Gown”. Orderofsplendor.blogspot.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 May 2017.
  • “Zahran Palace”. En.wikipedia.org. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 May 2017.
  • “رانيا العبد الله”. Ar.wikipedia.org. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 May 2017.

Queen Alia of Jordan

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Alia of Jordan

Queen Alia was the third wife of King Hussein of Jordan. She was born Alia Baha Ad-Din Touqan on December 15, 1948, in Cairo, Egypt, the daughter of Baha Ad-Din Touqan and Hanan Hashim. Her father was a former Jordanian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey, and Egypt. He served under King Abdullah I of Jordan, was instrumental in the writing of the Jordanian Constitution, and served as the country’s first ambassador to the United Nations.

Because of her father’s diplomatic work, the family moved often and Alia attended school wherever they lived. She attended the Rome Center of Liberal Arts in Rome (now the John Felice Rome Center), a branch of Loyola University Chicago, and studied political science, psychology, and public relations at Hunter College in New York. In 1971, she moved to Jordan where she worked for Royal Jordanian (at the time named Alia Airlines, in honor of King Hussein’s eldest daughter Alia). She was then asked to organize the first International Water Skiing Festival in Aqaba. It was there, where King Hussein had a holiday villa, that the two began their relationship.

 

They married privately on December 24, 1972, and Alia was named Queen Alia al-Hussein. The couple had two children and one adopted daughter:

Along with raising her family, Queen Alia broke with tradition by taking on a much more public role than any of her predecessors. She established the Office of the Queen of Jordan and began working with numerous charities and organizations – particularly those dealing with women, children, and social development. She established a large number of scholarships to help impoverished children gain a quality education. She also promoted the arts and literature in Jordan, helping to establish libraries around the country, and starting several Arts festivals which continue to this day.

Queen Alia also tackled some political issues. She very publicly fought for the rights of women to vote and be elected to public office. Thanks in part to her efforts, a law was put forth in 1974 allowing both. However, it would not be enacted until 1989.

On February 9, 1977, Queen Alia was killed in a helicopter crash in Amman. She was returning from a trip to Tafileh, about 140 miles south of Amman, where she was inspecting a hospital after reading negative reports about it in the media. Flying in a violent rainstorm, the military helicopter crashed and all aboard were killed. Completely devastated, King Hussein announced Alia’s death on television and radio. Following a traditional funeral service, Queen Alia was interred at the Royal Cemetery at Al-Maquar. King Hussein had a huge mausoleum built for his wife on a hill outside of the city and Queen Alia’s remains were moved there in 1980.

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Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Queen Dina of Jordan

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2015

photo: Wikipedia

Queen Dina of Jordan

Queen Dina of Jordan was the first of four wives of King Hussein I of Jordan. She was born Dina bint ‘Abdu’l-Hamid, the daughter of ‘Abdu’l-Hamid bin Muhammad ‘Abdu’l-Aziz and Fakhria Brav, on December 15, 1929, in Cairo, Egypt. Through her father’s family, she was a member of the House of Hashemite and a third cousin to her future father-in-law King Talal of Jordan.

Dina attended boarding school in England before earning her degree in English literature from Girton CollegeCambridge University. She then earned a postgraduate diploma in social science from Bedford College in London. Following her schooling, Dina returned to Egypt where she taught English literature and philosophy at the University of Cairo.

 

In 1952, while still at Girton College, Dina met her future husband, King Hussein of Jordan, at the home of a mutual relative in London. Hussein, six years younger than Dina, was a student at the Harrow School in England at the time. That same year, he became King upon his father’s abdication. Two years later, Hussein’s mother Queen Zein announced the engagement of the young couple. They married on April 18, 1955, and Dina was given the title Queen of Jordan. However, the marriage was full of discord from the beginning. Hussein intended that his wife would have no political role or input, while the well-educated Dina found this very stifling. There was also much tension between Dina and her mother-in-law. Queen Zein had promoted the wedding but then found that she resented Dina taking her position as the senior female in the kingdom. A daughter was born in 1956, but the marriage was beyond saving:

  • Princess Alia (born 1956), married (1) Lieutenant-Colonel Nasser Wasfi Mirza, had one son, divorced  (2) Sayyid Mohammed Al-Saleh, had two sons

Later that year, Hussein informed Dina that he was divorcing her. Their divorce became final on June 24, 1957, at which time she lost her title of Queen. She became HRH Princess Dina Abdul-Hamid of Jordan.

Dina later returned to Egypt, and in 1970, and married Asad Sulayman Abd al-Qadir, a high-ranking official in the Palestine Liberation Organization. In 1983, a year after al-Qadir was imprisoned by the Israelis, Dina negotiated his release, along with 8,000 other prisoners.

Princess Dina Abdul-Hamid of Jordan died in Amman, Jordan on August 21, 2019, at the age of 89. Her funeral was held at the Royal Guard Mosque and she was buried at the Royal Cemetery, near Raghadan Palace within the Royal Compound (Al-Marquar) in Amman, Jordan.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Resources at Unofficial Royalty