Queen Rania of Jordan hosts celebration ahead of Crown Hussein’s wedding to Rajwa Al-Saif

Queen Rania of Jordan paid emotional tribute to her son Crown Hussein in a moving speech at the first celebration ahead of his wedding to Rajwa Al-Saif next week.

In September, it was announced that Hussein, a Sandhurst graduate, 28, is to marry Saudi Arabian-born architect Rajwa, also 28, after an engagement ceremony at the bride-to-be’s home in Riyadh.

Hussein and Rajwa will marry on June 1 in Jordan at Zahran Palace in Amman, with celebrations kicked off last night.

Queen Rania shared a number of photos Instagram shows her celebrating with bride-to-be Rajwa at her traditional pre-wedding henna party.

She wrote, “No celebration would be complete without our Jordanian family. Celebrating our beautiful Rajwa!’

Guests included Rania’s daughters Princess Iman bint Abdullah II and Princess Salma bint Abdullah II, as well as members of the Alseif family and women from across the kingdom.

The party featured performances of traditional Jordanian and Saudi songs by local artists Nedaa Shrara, Diana Karazon and Zain Awad, as well as performances by Haleem Musical Group, Al Salt Girls Band and Misk Dance Company.

It also included a Zaffeh for the bride-to-be and Henna drawing for guests.

Queen Rania welcomed her guests and said, ‘I’m so glad you could all be here to celebrate with us.

“Today is a special day for us, and for all our Jordanian family: our joy is one and the same… near or far, you are all in our hearts today.”

She explained that like any mother, she has always dreamed of the wedding of Crown Prince Al Hussein.

“Al Hussein is as much your son as mine – you are his family and this is your party,” she added.

The Queen shared a few words about her future daughter-in-law and described Miss Rajwa as ‘the sweetest and most beautiful bride-to-be’, adding that she is as dear to her as her daughters, Princesses Iman and Salma.

‘I will 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 thought, 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”.

Rania turned to Ms. Azza Al Sudairi and explained that two months ago, just before Princess Iman’s wedding, she was in her position and knows how to feel.

But she assured 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 continued: “As mothers we want to make sure our children are happy.

“We often wonder if we did our best to raise our children. During the last days of His Majesty the late King Hussein and before his passing, I promised him to raise Al Hussein as he wanted him to be raised.’

She described Al Hussein as a brave, confident and strong soldier and compared the crown prince to his father, King Abdullah. involved in the preparations.

“That’s when I realized he’s a real, self-aware Hashemite, who is both a part of you and here to serve you,” she said.

Referring again to the anecdote she shared about the late King Hussein, the Queen said, “I can now tell His Majesty the late King Hussein that I have kept my word.”

Her Majesty concluded by thanking and welcoming her guests. “Congratulations to all of us, this is your celebration just as it is ours,” she said.

Rajwa received a degree from Syracuse University, New York, and attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles after completing her high school education in Saudi Arabia.

She has worked at an architectural firm in Los Angeles and currently works at Designlab Experience design studio in Riyadh.

She is the youngest daughter of Khaled M. Al Saif and his wife, Azza bint Naif Al-Sudairi.

Mr. Al Saif is CEO of the Al Saif Group, a privately held company with a diverse portfolio of healthcare, construction and security services companies, and is a board member of the Saudi-British Joint Business Council, which promotes trade between the two countries.

Crown Prince Hussein, the eldest of King Abdullah and Queen Rania’s four children, is a graduate of the prestigious Georgetown University, Washington DC, and served in the military after graduating from Sandhurst in 2017.

In 2015, he made history as the youngest chairperson of a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

He made headlines last year when he hosted Prince William on a visit to the Middle East.

Proud mum Rania shared her joy on Instagram after announcing their engagement in September.

She posted a slideshow of images and wrote, “I didn’t think it was possible to keep so much joy in my heart!” Congratulations to my eldest Prince Hussein and his beautiful bride-to-be, Rajwa.

In Arabic, Rania continued, ‘I prayed to Allah – like me, like every mother – to bestow upon you the good and find the one you love, Rajwa came.

“Congratulations to my son, Prince Al-Hussein, and our precious and dear bride Rajwa – may Allah bless you and make you happy and healthy.”

The couple took part in their first official engagement as husband and wife-to-be in October, when they visited the Royal Covenant.

And as a subtle nod to their relationship, Rajwa chose to wear a necklace with the initials ‘R’ and ‘H’.

Rajwa donned a nice white shirt for the occasion, which she paired with a long black skirt.

Meanwhile, she kept her accessories to a minimum and simply wore a miniature white handbag.

The pair appeared in high spirits during the outing with each other and beamed as they visited the Royal Covenant.