‘The joy of all Jordan’: crown prince ties the knot with his Saudi bride
Cheering crowds line the streets after ceremony attended by world’s royalty
Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah and his Saudi bride Rajwa Al-Saif were married in a lavish ceremony in Amman on Thursday attended by royals and dignitaries from around the world.
The religious ceremony took place at Zahran Palace in the Jordanian capital, which also hosted the wedding of King Abdullah and Queen Rania in 1993. The bride arrived in a 1968 Rolls-Royce Phantom V that was custom-made for the late Queen Zein Al-Sharaf.
About 140 distinguished special guests looked on as she was escorted by the crown prince’s younger brothzaffeh er, Prince Hashem bin Abdullah, and Princess Salma bint Abdullah.
The couple, both aged 28, signed the marriage contract in a ceremony presided over by Royal Hashemite Court Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Khalaileh, which was followed by several women performing the traditional zaghrouta, or ululation. The court announced that the bride would now be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein. Afterwards, crowds lined the route as the couple traveled in a custom 1984 Range Rover to the reception at Al-Husseiniya Palace to the west of the capital, giving Jordanians their first opportunity to cheer the newlyweds.
“We are certainly very happy with the crown prince’s wedding. This is the joy of all of Jordan,” said Sawsan Rifaia, 26, wearing a white shirt with a photo of the couple and a red Jordanian keffiyeh wrapped over her white headscarf.
The accompanying motorcade featured eight red 1980s Land Rovers and 11 red BMW motorcycles. The newlywed couple were greeted at the palace with a traditional performed by the Jordan Armed Forces Musical Band.
After passing through an honorary Arch of Sabers, the couple greeted their 1,700 guests.
The wedding ceremony was attended by dignitaries from around the world, including the UK’s Prince of Wales, William, and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales; US First Lady Jill Biden; and royalty from Malaysia, the Netherlands,Spain, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Japan.
The reception ended with the bride and groom cutting the wedding cake.