Jordan Celebrates Al-Husain- The Royal Wedding

Amman, Jordan was filled with excitement as images of Crown Prince Hussein and his fiancée, Saudi architect Rajwa Alseif, adorned the front of a building on May 30, 2023. The city was abuzz with celebrations leading up to Jordan’s first major royal wedding in years.

Several thousand enthusiastic Jordanians gathered at a sports stadium for a free concert, waving flags and cheering with joy. The wedding of Crown Prince Hussein, 28, and Rajwa Alseif, 29, is scheduled to take place at Zahran Palace in downtown Amman on Thursday. This historic venue was previously chosen for the weddings of the prince’s father, King Abdullah II, and his late grandfather, King Hussein.

This joyous occasion comes after a challenging period for the Jordanian royal family, including a public rift between the king and his half-brother. The wedding is seen as an opportunity to strengthen public support during a time of economic difficulties.

The upcoming ceremony is expected to incorporate elements of previous royal weddings, such as a motorcade of red Land Rovers escorting the couple through the streets of Amman after the ceremony, symbolizing continuity and tradition.

While palace officials have kept many details under wraps, including the guest list and the bride’s dress, it has been confirmed that U.S. First Lady Jill Biden and several other royals from around the world, including the king and queen of the Netherlands, will attend.

The wedding festivities commenced with a henna party hosted by Queen Rania, where Alseif, an architect with a background in Los Angeles, was the guest of honor. Alseif’s father is a founder of a prominent engineering firm in Saudi Arabia, and her mother is a relative of Saudi King Salman.

To kick off the celebrations, thousands of young Jordanians enjoyed a free concert at Amman International Stadium, featuring renowned Arab singers, including Tamer Hosny from Egypt. The crowd enthusiastically joined in with Hosny’s performance and expressed their support for the beloved crown prince.

As the anticipation builds, Jordanians eagerly await the upcoming wedding, which holds historical significance for the country. The last royal wedding that captivated the nation occurred in June 1993 when King Abdullah married Queen Rania, who hails from a Palestinian family in Kuwait.

The union between Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Alseif is expected to mark a new chapter for the royal family, solidifying their place in Jordan’s rich history.