“22 years on and my heart still skips a beat… So blessed to be at your side. Happy anniversary, Your Majesty”
This is what Her Majestry, Queen Rania of Jordan posted for the special day. The post was accompanied by this photo:
Rania Al-Yassin was born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents Faisal Sedki al-Yassin and Ilham Yassin from Tulkarm. A doctor’s daughter, she was born in Kuwait on 31 August 1970.
Queen Rania is a commoner and a refugee, forced to flee from Kuwait with her family during the first Gulf War. They settled in Amman, Jordan and Rania al Yassin took an education culminating in a business administration degree from The American University in Cairo. Upon her graduation from the American University, she worked briefly in marketing for Citibank, followed by a job with Apple Inc. in Amman.
King Abdullah and Rania al Yassin met at a dinner party in January of 1993.
Their royal fairy tale started one night, in January of that year, Rania’s al Yassin life changed in a split second as she met Prince Abdullah II bin al-Hussein of Jordan at a party thrown by his sister. By all accounts magic happened and the two fell deeply and passionately in love instantly and two months later they became engaged. On June 10th, 1993 they were married and now, 21 years later, they have four children, Crown Prince Hussein (1994), Princess Iman (1996) Princess Salma (2000) and Prince Hashem (2005).
Her husband ascended on 7 February 1999, and proclaimed her queen on 22 March 1999.
She once said, “I just wake up and feel like a regular person. At the end of the day you are living your life for the people that you represent. It’s an honour and a privilege to have that chance to make a difference – a qualitative difference in people’s lives – and it’s my responsibility to make the most out of that opportunity.”
For that reason, Queen Rania spends much of her time listening to and talking with the people of Jordan, to learn from them the best way to improve their livelihoods and Jordan’s prospects.
Queen Rania spearheads efforts in Jordan to adopt a holistic approach to national education, encouraging agencies and organizations to work on classroom quality, teaching standards, computer access, family involvement, community investment, and health awareness.
Through initiatives, like Madrasati and the Teachers Academy, Queen Rania is helping Jordan’s children get the best start in life by repairing and revamping local schools, while inspiring teachers to be their best.
She believes that the power of partnerships between the public, private, and non-profit sectors is a source of great potential for change in Jordan’s education system.
The Jordan River Foundation (JRF) is Queen Rania’s NGO that gives a helping hand to the disadvantaged in Jordan. For over ten years it has provided families with skills and knowledge to work themselves out of poverty. Today, it partners with the private sector and entire communities to bring resources, energy, and change to the lives of vulnerable citizens, empowering and inspiring them to believe they can make a difference for themselves and their loved ones.
JRF is also recognized as a leader in the region for its achievements in protecting children. From rescuing abused children to healing whole families, JRF is now a centre of excellence, sharing its knowledge and know-how with others in and outside of the country.
Titles
Rania is styled as “Her Majesty The Queen of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan”. From her marriage on 10 June 1993 until her husband’s ascension on 22 March 1999 she was styled as “Her Royal Highness Princess Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan”.
Queen Rania al-Abdullah is one of the most visible first ladies in the Arab world, and has become a regular fixture on the society pages of London magazines.
But to most people, Queen Rania is a glamorous figure and a champion for women and children’s rights. She has founded numerous charities.
She is an outspoken critic of “honour killing” – the custom of men murdering any female relative found to have committed adultery or lost her virginity before marriage.
When King Abdullah Bin al-Hussein and Queen Rania al-Abdullah ascended the throne in 1999, they brought a more populist approach to the Jordanian monarchy.
The royal couple have eschewed palace surroundings in favour of a suburban home outside Amman.
While her husband is known for mingling with his subjects in disguise, Queen Rania prefers to visit remote villages in the kingdom.
Her trips are unplanned and unannounced. She simply gets into her car and drives off with a pair of security guards in tow.
The Bride: Rania al Yassin, who was born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents. She worked for Citibank and Apple Inc.
The Groom: King Abdullah II, then a prince.
When: June 10, 1993, they had met at a dinner party in January of that year.
Where: Amman, Jordan.
Happy Anniversary !
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