Wedding fever is sweeping Jordan as Crown Prince Hussein is preparing to marry his fiancé Rajwa Alseif later today.
The happy couple are set to tie the knot this afternoon at Zahran Palace in Amman in front of 140 guests – including the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Following this ceremony, the Jordanian Royal Family will then host a lavish reception at the Al Husseiniya Palace, which will be attended by more than 1,700 people.
Despite marrying into one of the most famous royal families in the world, Jordan’s future Queen has enjoyed an upbringing largely out of the spotlight.
From her childhood spent in Saudi Arabia to her days as a student living in Los Angeles, FEMAIL reveals how the bride came to meet her Prince Charming and why Queen Rania sees the high-flying architect as the ‘perfect answer’ for her son.
Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein will marry Rajwa Al Saif at Zahran Palace in Amman this afternoon
Born in April 1994, Rajwa is the youngest of four siblings born to Khalid bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Alseif and his wife Azza.
The bride has two older brothers called Faisal and Nayef as well as her older sister Dana – who will all be attending today’s ceremony.
Her father Kahlid studied Civil Engineering at the University of Beirut in New York before going on to found El Seif Engineering Contracting, which is one of Saudi Arabia’s leading construction companies.
Rajwa’s other Azza came from the Al-Sudairi family and is the first cousin of King Salman.
Rajwa’s family on her father’s side are descendants of the Subai tribe and have been sheikhs of Attar in Sudair, Najd since the beginning of King Abdulaziz Al Saud’s reign in 1932.
The future Queen of Jordan was educated in Saudi Arabia before then moving to the US for university.
As well as speaking her native Arabic, Rajwa is also fluent in English and French.
While living in New York, Rajwa studied Architecture at Syracuse University – going to obtain her Bachelor of Arts.
Pictured: Rajwa pictured arriving at her henna party earlier this month, which her mother-in-law Queen Rania organised
During the evening, Rania made a heartwarming speech about her daughter-in-law, where she said: ‘She is the perfect answer to all my prayers for him’
During her undergraduate degree, Rajwa flew to Dubai with her class to study the city’s sustainable developments
She told the university paper: ‘What made this trip so memorable for me, was seeing the students in the studio experience Arabic culture and architecture for the first time.
‘Dubai is very intriguing, having contemporary architecture while also attempting to maintain the traditional beauty of the Arabic culture and history.’
Following her graduation, she then went on to study Visual Communications at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles – where reality star Lauren Conrad and fashion designer Monique Lhuillier also studied.
She then went on to work at an architecture firm in Los Angeles and was employed by Designlab Experience design studio in Riyadh last year.
Along with her passion for horseback riding, Rajwa also has a creative streak – and is said to enjoy drawing and making art in her spare time.
Despite Crown Prince Hussein’s public profile, the couple largely kept their relationship out of the spotlight to begin with.
Crown Prince Hussein, 28, announced his engagement to Rajwa, 29, last August – after the heir to the throne proposed at his future wife’s home in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Rajwa’s mother Azza is the first cousin of King Salmon of Saudi Arabia (pictured in May 2022)
Rajwa pictured kissing her mother Azza on the cheek during her traditional henna party earlier this month
Azza and Queen Rania pictured arriving at Rajwa’s henna party earlier this month – where the two mothers were showered with petals
Jordan’s Royal Family released this official portrait of Crown Hussein and his wife-to-be following their engagement
The future King of Jordan picked a show-stopping pear-shaped diamond set on a pave band (pictured) to propose with
At the time, Hussein confirmed that both his and Rajwa’s families were present for the special moment.
The future King of Jordan picked a show-stopping pear-shaped diamond set on a pave band to propose with.
Speaking to Vogue Arabia earlier this year, Crown Prince Hussein revealed they were introduced by a friend who also attended the exclusive King’s Academy in Jordan.
He said: ‘I met Rajwa through an old friend from school. I consider myself lucky because it is not every day you meet someone like Rajwa.’
The happy news came just weeks after his younger sister Princess Iman’s engagement to Venezuelan venture capitalist Jameel Thermiotis was announced.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Queen Rania stand with Crown Prince Hussein during his engagement to Rajwa Al Saif in August 2022
Crown Prince Hussein pictured putting a ring on his future wife’s finger during their engagement party
What’s more, it is clear that the glamorous career woman has gained the seal of approval from her mother-in-law Queen Rania.
She wrote on Instagram at the time: ‘I didn’t think it was possible to hold so much joy in my heart! Congratulations to my eldest Prince Hussein and his beautiful bride-to-be, Rajwa.
‘I prayed to Allah – like me, like every mother – to grant you good and to find the one you love, Rajwa came.
‘Congratulations to my son, Prince Al-Hussein, and our precious and sweet bride Rajwa – May Allah bless you and make you happy and complete well.’
Earlier this month, Queen Rania hosted a pre-wedding henna party for Rajwa – where the two women were spotted walking hand-in-hand together.
Crown Prince Al Hussein of Jordan and Rajwa Al Saif during their first official engagement as an engaged couple in October 2022
Queen Rania paid an emotional tribute to her son Hussein in a touching speech in the first celebration ahead of his wedding to Rajwa this week
For the occasion, the bride-to-be wore a stunning white gown with gold embellishments and a sparkling headdress.
Sharing a few words about her future daughter-in-law, the Queen described Rajwa as ‘the sweetest and most beautiful bride-to-be’, adding that she is as precious to her as her daughters Princesses Iman and Salma.
‘I’ll never forget how happy His Majesty and I were when Al Hussein told us he wanted to marry Rajwa. She is the perfect answer to all my prayers for him,’ The Queen reflected, before wishing the couple a blessed and happy future.
‘May you always be each other’s source of happiness and support,’ she said.
The queen also noted that a daughter is usually a reflection of her mother, referring to the Crown Prince’s future mother-in-law by her first name, Azza, whom she described as a ‘gem’.
Queen Rania and her daughter Princess Iman, who was also married recently, pictured at Rajwa’s henna party
News about the big day emerged as Queen Rania hosted a pre-wedding henna party for Crown Prince Hussein’s future wife Rajwa this week
Addressing Azza bint Naif Al-Sudairi, Rania explained that two months ago, right before Princess Iman’s wedding, she realised how Rajwa’s mother must be feeling now.
But she reassured her that ‘we and Al Hussein will take the very best care of Rajwa. This is her country, and she is among her family and her people.’
The queen added: ‘As mothers, the one thing we truly want is to make sure that our children are happy.
‘We often ask ourselves whether we did the best we can to raise our children. During His Majesty the late King Hussein’s final days and before his passing, I made him a promise to raise Al Hussein the way he wanted him to be raised.’
The official wedding celebrations began in Jordan last night – where King Abdullah II hosted a dinner for over 4,000 Jordanians, who were served Jordan’s festive national dish Mansaf – lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yoghurt.
In the lead-up to the wedding, Rajwa has started accompanying her mother-in-law and fiancé on royal engagements – including a visit to the Royal Hashemite Court in October 2022.
The couple’s reception will feature a variety of performances by local and regional singers, a choir group, Jordanian bands, the national orchestra, and folk dance troupes.
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