From sweet throwback to custom couture!
This year marks exactly 25 years since Jordan’s King Abdullah II ascended the throne, with his great love, Queen Rania, at his side. On June 9, 1999, he was officially inaugurated with a ceremony at the palace and a car escort through the capital Amman. This weekend the court commemorated this milestone with a series of impressive snapshots of the royal couple in full regalia and a big party.
The unexpected king
Abdullah II actually became king on February 7, 1999, when his father, King Hussein, died of a form of cancer after almost five decades on the throne. It may now seem obvious that Abdullah would succeed his father. But this was really different: until a few weeks before Hussein’s death, it would be his younger brother, Crown Prince Hassan, who would succeed him. On January 24, the king announced that the throne would in due course not go to his younger brother, but to his son.
Only two weeks later the time had already come – Prince Abdullah, who had prepared himself all his life for a military career, was officially appointed king by the Jordanian parliament. His inauguration took place a few months later, on June 9.
Anniversary snaps
With such a gigantic milestone, of course we had to go all out! This weekend, the Jordanian court was treated to a set of new portraits of their royal couple. Of course they were photographed together…
And the court also released individual portraits of both the king…
…As his radiant wife.
In the new portraits, the queen wears a beautiful, dark gown, which, according to some fashion experts, she also wore in 1999. A sweet nod to that monumental year! The Arabic scroll tiara adorns her – perfectly coiffed – crown. Gorgeous!
Festivities
In addition, the court also organized a suitable celebration of the silver jubilee. The king gave an emotional speech to prominent figures present, various military branches marched and various musical talents were given the opportunity to show themselves to the country.
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The royal couple’s family was of course also present on the occasion in full regalia. Crown Prince Hussein was accompanied by the visibly pregnant Princess Rajwa, who appeared in a red dress for her third official appearance in a row. And don’t blame her, because the custom Honayda gown looks great on her! Her sisters-in-law, princesses Iman and Salma, were dressed in equally beautiful, yet more understated dresses.
Their mother, Queen Rania, in turn wore a custom creation by Laith Almalouf, consisting of a white gown with an asymmetrical gray corset. The designer himself has said that the dress took about 200 hours of work and is bursting with symbolism. From the seven-pointed stars on Rania’s collar to the subtle grain motifs in the skirt – this work of art has clearly been well thought out.
On to the next anniversary!
Source: Instagram @royalfashionpolice, RHC.jo | Image: NL Image
