She paid tribute to her humble beginnings by forgoing a tiara on her wedding day.
Nevertheless, Rania Al-Yassin – now Queen of Jordan – charmed guests with her captivating presence when she married Prince Abdullah 31 years ago today.
The couple first met at a dinner in 1992 and became engaged six months later, exchanging vows in a grand ceremony at the Zahran Palace in Amman, Jordan on June 10, 1993.
Despite tradition that dictates that royal brides wear family jewels, Rania, born into a humble Palestinian family in Kuwait, made a statement by wearing a simple, embellished headband on her veil, symbolizing her roots.
Speed freak Abdullah, who is known for his love of motorcycles, rallying and diving, wore a military uniform and a ceremonial sword on his hip.
Rania chose British designer Bruce Oldfield to create her custom-made dress, which featured gold floral embroidery, a voluminous ivory satin skirt and a matching jacket.
The latter is designed with striking lapels, short sleeves and a detachable belt – an element her daughter, Princess Iman, borrowed for her own pre-wedding henna ceremony in 2023.
Reports indicate that Oldfield found inspiration for the dress in formal Syrian dresses on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
She paid tribute to her humble beginnings by forgoing a tiara on her wedding day. Nevertheless, Rania Al-Yassin – now Queen of Jordan – charmed guests with her captivating presence when she married Prince Abdullah 31 years ago today.
The couple first met at a dinner in 1992 and became engaged six months later, exchanging vows in a grand ceremony at the Zahran Palace in Amman, Jordan on June 10, 1993. Above: Rania and Prince Abdullah on their wedding day
Speed freak Abdullah is known for his love for motorcycles. Above: King Abdullah II of Jordan on his Harley Davidson motorcycle during the filming of the 2002 travel documentary Jordan: The Royal Tour
After their wedding, the couple became parents to Crown Prince Hussein, 29, Princess Iman, 27, Princess Salma, 23, and Prince Hashem, 19.
Abdullah previously enjoyed skydiving, but had to give up the dangerous hobby when he became monarch after the death of his father in 1999.
He showed his passion for motorcycles in a 2002 Discovery Channel documentary, in which he rode around his country on a Harley Davidson.
Last March, Princess Iman gave a touching nod to her parents’ big day by wearing her mother’s white and gold wedding belt as she took part in her henna ceremony.
Rania and Abdullah saw Hussein get married last year. He married Rajwa Al Saif.
Ahead of their wedding, Queen Rania paid an emotional tribute to the bride, describing Miss 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.
Despite tradition that dictates that royal brides wear family jewels, Rania, born into a humble Palestinian family in Kuwait, made a statement by wearing a simple, embellished headband on her veil, symbolizing her roots. Above: The couple beams at each other on their wedding day
Rania and Abdullah leave Zahran Palace in their car after tying the knot 31 years ago today
The couple first met at a dinner party in 1992 and became engaged six months later, exchanging vows on June 10, 1993.
The young bridesmaids wore gold dresses with puffed sleeves and flower crowns
Rania chose British designer Bruce Oldfield to create her custom dress with gold floral embroidery
The bride wore a matching jacket, designed with statement lapels, short sleeves and a detachable belt
During their grand evening reception, the royal couple cut their breathtaking wedding cake
Rania and Abdallah enjoyed an evening of dancing surrounded by friends and family
The newlyweds looked happier than ever on their big day
Rania carried a large bouquet of white lilies and leaves with gold accents
Princess Iman borrowed the belt from her mother’s wedding dress for her 2023 henna celebrations
In 2011, Rania was named by Forbes as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world.
She has campaigned for causes such as women’s rights, child protection and the environment.
Last May, Queen Rania joined her husband at the coronation of King Charles at Westminster Abbey.
She wore a yellow long-sleeved dress by Tamara Ralph Couture. She paired the custom pencil number with a matching hat and Jimmy Choo heeled pumps.
It was a whirlwind romance for then-Prince Abdullah and Rania Al-Yassin, who married within a year of meeting and are still in love to this day.
King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan pictured with their children (from left to right) Prince Hussein, Princess Salma, Prince Hashem and Princess Iman, December 2022
Princess Rajwa Al Hussein, Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdulla II and his mother, Queen Rania, during the royal wedding banquet in Amman, Jordan earlier this month
King Abdullah and Queen Rania pose for a photo with the bride and groom, their eldest daughter Princess Iman and Jameel Alexander Thermiotis in March 2023
Queen of Jordan is pictured speaking during a panel discussion at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) annual meeting in New York in September 2016
Eight months earlier, she had attended Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
She admitted she ‘looked up’ to Queen Elizabeth during an interview with ITV News.
Rania said: ‘She didn’t always assume you wanted her advice, but she was very generous when you asked for it.
‘I really looked up to her. For me she is the queen of the world.’