Jordan’s royal family is gearing up for the wedding of the summer with Crown Prince Hussein’s marriage to Rajwa Al-Saif this month. But will the Prince and Princess of Wales be there?
It was announced in September that Sandhurst graduate Hussein, 28, is set to wed Saudi Arabian-born architect Rajwa, also 28, after an engagement ceremony at the bride-to-be’s family home in Riyadh.
The pair are set to tie the knot on June 1 and plan to host a selection of international guests for their big day at Zahran Palace.
Jordan holds special memories for Kate and there is speculation she will be there.
Bride-to-be Rajwa Al Saif walking at a dinner party held by Queen Rania of Jordan, in celebration of her upcoming wedding set for June 1 to Crown Prince Hussein
Queen Rania of Jordan (right) and Princess Iman bint Abdullah II during the celebratory dinner party
The Prince and Princess of Wales speaking to King Abdullah ll and Queen Rania during a pre luncheon reception for Sovereign Monarchs and guests at Windsor Castle on May 18, 2012
The Middleton family spent three years in Jordan during the early 80s, when the Princess of Wales was just two years old, after her father Michael, a British Airways manager, was relocated to Amman for work.
Having previously released a photo from their time in Jordan, the snapshot shows Kate aged four with her father and younger sister Pippa at an archaeological site.
Speaking of Kate’s childhood with the chief executive of Save the Children, Rania Malki, during a tour of the Middle East in 2018, Prince William said: ‘She loved it here, she really did. She is very upset that I am coming here without her.’
William visited the ruins of a Roman settlement at Jerash where Kate was pictured with Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein, before posing for a picture at the same spot.
The Prince of Wales told photographers: ‘We’ll have to bring the kids next time.’
And staying true to his word, in 2021, Kensington Palace revealed William and Kate had taken George, Charlotte and Louis on holiday to Jordan when they released their Christmas card.
The Palace revealed the photograph was taken in Jordan earlier that year when the royal family-of-five visited the ancient city of Petra.
The Jordanian royal family have shared a long-time close connection with the British royals.
A family photo of Kate, now the Princess of Wales, aged four with her father Michael Middleton and sister Pippa in Jerash, Jordan
Prince William and Crown Prince Hussein looking at a blown-up version of the same photograph
In 2021, Kensington Palace revealed William and Kate had taken George, Charlotte and Louis on holiday to Jordan when they released a Christmas card featuring this image
Hussein, 28, is set to wed Saudi Arabian-born Rajwa, also 28, pictured together, next week
King Abdullah and Queen Rania were among those included on the ‘slimmed-down’ guest list of 2,300 at Westminster Abbey on 6 May for King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Coronation.
The pair were also in attendance at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in September last year.
Queen Rania referred to the late Monarch as the ‘Queen of the World’ in a sweet Instagram tribute and even admitted she ‘looked up’ to Queen Elizabeth during an interview with ITV News.
Raina also spoke fondly about the Princess of Wales during an interview with CNN which was recorded in London in September 2022, ahead of the funeral.
Speaking of the mother-of-three, Rania, who is married to King Abdullah II of Jordan, praised Kate for her sense of duty, saying she ‘gives from the heart.’
The royal women share many similarities – as both mothers are passionate advocates for children’s welfare.
King Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania of Jordan attending the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6
The then Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall pictured during a walking tour of Umm Qais on November 17, 2021
King Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania greeting King Charles and Queen Camilla when they arrived at the Royal Palace on a visit to the Jordan on March 12, 2013
Queen Rania is also a council member for the Earthshot Prize, which was launched by Prince William in 2020.
The VIP confirmed guest list for the wedding includes Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and his wife Mary, as well as Japan’s Princess Hisako and Princess Tsuguko.
The Dutch monarchs have also confirmed that they will be there to celebrate with a post on their website.
Other royals who intend to join the celebrations include Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden – who recently attended King Charles III’s Coronation – and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.
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