The Prince and Princess of Wales are in Jordan today for the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Rajwa Al-Saif at Zahran Palace in Amman.
The glittering wedding, a State event, is a much-awaited milestone for William and Kate, marking the first time they have attended a royal wedding or prominent occasion hosted by another monarchy. As Prince of Wales, a considerable amount of overseas travel was undertaken by Charles. Now as King, with a different set of responsibilities, the mantle has fallen to the Waleses. Thus far, there's no Commonwealth tour on the horizon for the couple, with the notable exception of Earthshot, which will take place in Singapore in November.
As coverage of the wedding was growing, I had a feeling it might be the perfect occasion for the new Prince and Princess of Wales to attend.
There are several important connections between both William and Kate and Jordan. Of course, when Kate was just two, the Middleton family spent over two years in the country where Michael was working for British Airways. During a solo visit to Jordan in 2018, William said his wife "loved" her time there. Kate attended an English language nursery before returning to England two years later.
In 2011, the Middletons chose an image of Michael, Kate and Pippa in Jordan as one of several released ahead of the royal wedding.
In 2021, William and Kate took the children to the ancient city of Petra in Jordan for a family holiday. They chose a family portrait from the trip for their Christmas card that year.
Additionally, Queen Rania is a member of the Earthshot Prize Council and has been enormously supportive of the project. Rania also spoke warmly during the Coronation, telling People: "It struck the perfect balance of solemnity, spectacle, and spirituality. The many different traditions and rituals we saw were a reminder of Britain's deep respect for its history, and the link between King Charles III and British sovereigns of centuries past. It is admirable to see how the British monarchy has evolved through the years and remained a steadying presence for the country and its people."
On a wider point, we saw such an immense outpouring of support and a sense of coming together for both the Queen's funeral and the King's coronation, it's important for senior British royals to reciprocate where possible, an element I imagine factored into the decision to attend.
BREAKING: The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at the wedding of the Jordanian Crown Princehttps://t.co/PAiZ4D1RJB
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 1, 2023
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/Qck2M9cHOv
Below, the Prince and Princess being greeted by Queen Rania and King Abdullah with a curtsy from Kate. Queen Rania looked effortlessly elegant in a black Dior gown.
Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania receive their RH prince and princess of Wales; William & Kate. #CelebratingAlHussein #نفرح_بالحُسين pic.twitter.com/5zKOlipY0U
— خُلود ارشيدات (@KRushaidat) June 1, 2023
Another look.
'When the couple arrived, they had a lengthy chat with the parents of the groom, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, with Kate dipping into a curtsy while greeting each of them.'
Below, King Abdullah and Queen Rania welcoming a host of relatives and foreign royals.
Before we proceed to coverage of the bride, groom and guests, we'll take a look at Kate's sartorial choices for the wedding. As you all know, I've long been an avid enthusiast when it comes to the combination of the Princess and Elie Saab. We've seen Kate wear a two-piece blue look for Ascot -- repeated last month for a Buckingham Palace garden party.
I've long wondered if the talented Lebanese designer featured in Kate's private rotation with a degree of frequency. Today, Kate chose an intricate dusty pink, flowing gown with a high neckline from the designer's Autumn/Winter 2017 collection. Given the collection the dress is from, it's been speculated Kate may have worn it to another wedding (I understand Kate actually wore a striking green gown for Pippa's wedding reception). I think it quite likely it was purchased for a tour possibly 2017/2018, but then Kate was expecting Louis and on maternity leave. Another Saab creation for tonight's banquet? I do hope so :)
Kate's unidentified statement pink earrings have added a stunning finish to several of her looks over the years. It's long been speculated they were a wedding gift. Some years ago, Rebecca English received Palace confirmation they were not on loan from the late Queen and didn't offer further guidance. It's quite possible they are, in fact, a gift from the Jordanian royals.
Below, Kate wearing the dazzling pair for the 2017 BAFTA awards.
Kate carried her gold glitter Wilbur & Gussie 'Charlie' clutch, a piece she's had since 2011.
Crown Prince Hussein, 28, was officially named Heir to the Throne when he was just fifteen years old. The namesake of his grandfather, Hussein claims descent in the male line from Muhammad's daughter Fatima and son-in-law Ali, the fourth caliph. Hussein has enjoyed a varied education which has seen him obtain a bachelor's degree in International History at Georgetown and also graduation from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, previously attended by William and Harry. A Captain in the Jordanian Armed Forces, he is a powerful public speaker, following very much in his mother's footsteps.
Rajwa Al Saif, 29, is an architect and the daughter of one of Saudi Arabia's most prominent engineering firms (her mother is related to King Salman of Saudi Arabia). Rajwa completed her education in the United States, studying at the Syracuse School of Architecture and earning a degree from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.
'There has been some speculation that the high-profile wedding could be aimed at distracting Jordanians from a bitter public rift between the King of Jordan and his half-brother, who was implicated in a failed coup attempt two years ago.
In May last year, King Abdullah II explained that he had placed his half brother, Prince Hamzah bin al-Hussein, under house arrest due to his “erratic behaviour and aspirations” in a public letter that was unprecedented in its candour.
The move came in the wake of a 2021 alleged coup attempt that Jordanian leaders claimed to have foiled by arresting 19 people, including Prince Hamzah and a number of political allies and officials.'
Today has been declared a public holiday in Jordan, allowing all those who wish to celebrate the most significant royal wedding since Abudullah and Rania wed thirty years ago.
The bride was escorted by her now brother-in-law Prince Hashem and his sisters Princess Iman and Princess Salma.
Zahran Palace, built in 1957, is a majestic royal residence. Zahran meaning "blooming flower" is filled with lush greenery and overlooks Jabal Amman, one of Jordan's oldest neighbourhoods.
More from the Royal Hashemite Court:
'The Palace was the home of Her Majesty the Queen Mother the late Zain Al Sharaf (grandmother of His Majesty King Abdullah II, mother of His Majesty King Hussein and wife of His Majesty King Talal) until her passing on 26 April 1994. Afterwards, Zahran Palace became a Hashemite headquarters where official functions are held.'
The live stream with coverage of arrivals and the wedding ceremony shared by the Jordanian Government.
A beaming Hussein upon seeing his bride.
The scene inside during the intimate ceremony.
William and Kate amidst a sea of royals.
A good look at the Foreign Royals. Monarchs with their spouses in front then, solo Consorts, Heirs. And behind the row break more extended royals. pic.twitter.com/8L37gpzSAA
— Gert's Royals (@Gertsroyals) June 1, 2023
The exchanging of rings.
لحظة تبديل الخواتم في زفاف سمو ولي العهد#نفرح_بالحسين pic.twitter.com/R5uycFnJeL
— Jordan TV-التلفزيون الأردني (@JrtvMedia) June 1, 2023
After the ceremony, William and Kate had a warm chat and took the opportunity to congratulate the newlyweds.
They will all see each other at various occasions throughout their lives as future kings and queens.
The Prince and Princess of Wales greeting Crown Prince Al Hussein and Crown Princess Rajwa.
— ChristinZ (@ChristinsQueens) June 1, 2023
🎥 RHC pic.twitter.com/tUauvr9ech
William and Kate were in attendance officially representing the King and the Royal family, but they were not the only ones from the family invited. Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were there on a personal basis; there's obviously a close friendship across the families.
Longer version. Check out the difference in formality between those the Crown Prince greets before and after Beatrice and Edo vs the casualness of his greeting with Beatrice and Edo. pic.twitter.com/8JCFfjORlH
— RoyalWatcherFromDC (@RoyalWatcherDC) June 1, 2023
Beatrice looked lovely in Needle & Thread's Celia dress in ice blue.
The newlyweds depart Zahran Palace.
Watch: Jordan’s royal newlyweds, Crown Prince Al Hussein and Saudi national Rajwa Al Seif, depart Zahran Palace heading to Al Husseiniya Palace accompanied by the Red Motorcade.#RoyalWedding #CelebratingAlHusseinhttps://t.co/dZg5RIfjXI pic.twitter.com/GZ2QiL1487
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) June 1, 2023
The couple participate in the Red Motorcade.
A wave from the happy couple.
More from Jordan News:
'Today, the Red Motorcade is used on occasions of national importance, including the opening of Parliament, Army Day, Independence Day, and during official visits of heads of state.
On these occasions, motorcade members and riders don full Jordanian military regalia and the national red and white checkered headdress, known in Arabic as the Shemagh.
The Motorcade consists of eight bright red armed land rover vehicles and 11 motorcycles, but on special occasions, horse, and camel riders join the lineup and the Jordan Armed Forces Musical Band plays military music on bagpipes'.
A video from the procession which saw thousands line the streets.
The Princess of Wales was not alone in favouring Elie Saab today; the bride chose a custom made gown by the designer, too.
Vogue Arabia shared the details:
'For her wedding day, the future queen of Jordan opted for none other than Elie Saab. Her pick was, as one would imagine, all-white.
First seen stepping out of her car with sister-in-law Princess Iman holding her hand, Rajwa Al-Saif wore her white wedding gown with an elaborate veil that trailed meters behind her. The dress itself was a body skimming number that came sans embellishment, but stood out for its elegantly sculpted asymmetrical neckline. Along with the full-sleeved gown came a detachable train with floral detailing that added volume and drama to her wedding look'.
A closer look at the sweeping train.
Quite unexpectedly, Rajwa opted for a new tiara. Tiara Mania notes the beautiful piece appears to have "Arabic calligraphy on all sides". Rajwa teamed the piece with matching diamond earrings.
As you may have noticed, photos are incredibly sparse, however we did get a glimpse of several royals leaving their hotel. As always, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is a sartorial vision in a blue floral Luisa Beccaria gown she's worn previously and dazzling jewels.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden chose the very pretty By Malina 'Alize' floral dress.
The always elegant Queen Jetsun of Bhutan and Princess Eeuphelma of Bhutan.
A very impressive young lady who is immersing herself in duties and State occasions at just 21 -- Princess Elisabeth of Belgium. She chose a magenta cape gown by Essential Antwerp (with thanks to Royal Fashion Police).
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark repeated her floral Erdem 'Agnes' gown.
First Lady Dr Jill Biden, representing the US, was elegant in a custom lavender Reem Acra gown (with thanks to Kate Bennett).
Jovial scenes at the first reception.
Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Al Hussein and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein arrived for the first reception.
— ChristinZ (@ChristinsQueens) June 1, 2023
🎥 RHC pic.twitter.com/D7nJxkwxPH
Just as I was about to hit publish on this, I noticed Gert's Royals spotted Carole Middleton, Pippa and James Matthews in attendance. It's very interesting indeed and perhaps speaks to closer friendships than we're aware of.
We're expecting the glittering evening banquet (with tiaras) to get underway quite shortly.
Now that I've seen these high quality photos I like this dress even less. I maintain that it looks like curtains.
ReplyDeleteI think Beatrice looks beautiful and I love the bow in her hair (and Princess Mary's hair as well!). It's a fun touch.
The standout is the bride of course - that dress is EXQUISITE! She looks every inch a princess.
I've already commented on the dress, so here I'll just say that I believe that's Ashley Biden with her mother, Dr. Jill Biden.
ReplyDeleteThe bride is stunning and absolutely love her earrings! Her sleek gown paired with the detailed train seems a modern choice and the whole outfit is kind of architectural, reflecting her education. Does anyone know why her now brother-in-law walked her down the aisle instead of someone from her family?
ReplyDeleteAs for Kate, the color worked well in the setting and her hair is beautiful. The dress is okay, but I have always loved those gorgeous earrings!
Such a treat to see all these royal ladies in one place. Mary of Denmark looks particularly beautiful with her hair styled that way.
ReplyDeleteKate appears to be wearing a darker shade of lipstick than typical, and it’s very flattering on her. I don’t care for her dress - it’s quite busy and the pale blush isn’t a great color on her (felt the same way about the peachy blush color she wore for Pippa’s wedding), but of course she looks amazing anyway.
Good spotting of Carole and the other Middletons in the crowd. It makes me wonder if Carole and Mike accompanied the Wales (then Cambridge) family on their Jordan trip in 2021 and were all hosted by the Jordanian RF, allowing them to get to know each other.
I think Kate looks scrumptious in the dress -- and those earrings! The bride's earrings are perfection! And Beatrice looks beautiful. Opulence seems to be the rule today.
ReplyDeleteOh dear. I fear I cannot like Kate’s dress at all. The colour does nothing for her and the heavy embroidery together with the high neckline and the sleeves looks just dowdy. I am very happy though, the Walses finally take on those occasions and I hope to see more of them in those settings.
ReplyDeleteThe bride looked stunning and I love how she made cultural expectations work with a very modern look.
C.
WOW - both dresses are beautiful
ReplyDeleteI am wondering why Kate is going through this pink phase it’s not the feet colour on her . I feel the dress is just too busy and old fashioned. The ruffles , fan sleeves and heavy embroidery do nothing for the dress . Her hair is so heavy and just hangs there no bounce. I appreciate there is a dress code but it’s all so dowdy in my opinion
ReplyDeleteKate’s dress is very mediocre, love her earrings though. But I could talk about the bride’s dress and jewellery all day. I love her sleek modern wedding look with clean lines. Her tiara is lovely, more understated I dare say, and is perfect to showcase the gorgeous dress and not distract from it.
ReplyDeleteWhat an excellent dress choice for a Middle Eastern wedding. Pink. Romantic. And yet modern. Princess Catherine wears it with much grace. So proud of her.
ReplyDeleteI so agree; it's the perfect choice for the occasion. She looks really beautiful.
DeleteNo Kate Noooo. The Elie Saab dress looks so dowdy like a curtain and it reminds me of some great grandma's dress that Ron Weasley wore to the Yule Ball in Harry Potter. Queen Rania looks so elegant but I don't know black for a wedding? Queen Jetsun looks beautiful everytime in her bhutanese dress. Princess Elisabeth looks so young and stylish in her flowy pink dress. Love it.. Now the bride.. I have been following Princess Rajwa ever since the engagement was announced. The wedding dress is so modern. The pre wedding henna party traditional white n gold dress is one my favorites till date. Her looks were equally beautiful at Princess Iman's wedding. Looking forward to more fashion from Rajwa
ReplyDeleteI don't like the dress either. Too much fabric. Thankfully she is beautifully with anything.
ReplyDeleteWell I am clearly in the minority because I like this dress. I really like the raised design and how it adds interest on the sleeves, bust and waist. My only quibble is I think the sleeves are too long. It's perfect for the modest fashion dictated by the location of the wedding.
ReplyDeleteBorder Terrier lover
This is a beautiful sleek and elegant gown. As she moved the gown glided, stunning. The fit and design is perfect for her. Love her hair and makeup. Her earrings are gorgeous. A fabulous appearance.
ReplyDeleteThe craftsmanship on the dress is stunning and I love the earrings with it. Such a beautiful setting and wedding! Wow! I’ve been checking my phone for updates with all the gowns :) thanks Charlotte! Sue from IL
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to see so many fashionable ladies. Personally, I think Kate choose a dress that was perfect for this Royal Wedding. Given the location, protocols, and to not upstage the gorgeous bride (loved her gown). And if it is a rewear - it makes it all the better IMHO.
ReplyDeleteIf those earrings were a gift from Jordan (saw that in another post) then it also in a way lets those earrings shine given the neutral colored gown. I thought that Princess Beatrice's dress was somewhat similar (flowy with lots of embellishments) in light blue and liked the addition of the belt.
So many lovey gowns. And lots of pastels, florals, and bright colors. Fun to see! I would like to see a close up photos of what Carol Middleton and Pippa. And I'm sure there will be close up photos of the bride's gown, would like to see the embellishments along the train in the back. What a lovely venue and garden. Elle
I noticed that both Kate and Beatrice curtsied but I didn't see any other guests do the same. Anyone know why?
ReplyDeleteI find this wedding ceremony and parade so fascinating. The happiest of happy celebrating in a culture I know very little about. I LOVE it. I love that Kate wore a gift from Jordan, the girl doesn't put a foot wrong. Such a beautiful setting for the wedding. If someone speaks Arabic, I would love to know what the tiara's scroll says.
ReplyDeleteKate looks gorgeous. I love the dress. It is so elegant, and flows beautifully in the videos. They are a wonderful couple.
ReplyDeleteWow! Both dresses are stunning. Love the color. I only wish is that we could see a new tiara lol.
ReplyDeleteAgree, very beautiful but can't wait for the day Kate breaks a new tiara out of the vault!
DeleteI think Catherine's dress is lovely. The ruffle over the hands are a bit superfluous. The "net" ruffle on Beatrice's dress is unflattering. The gowns for the reception are lovely, no comments on those.
ReplyDeleteI almost have to laugh at how varied the comments are on Kate’s look for this wedding. I personally love it and think she looks so elegant! My first thought was I love the color on her and her hair & make up are perfect! A truly suitable & gorgeous choice!
ReplyDeleteThe bride’s dress & look are perfection…simply stunning. This is the type of simple, elegant look I had hoped for on Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, on her wedding day. Unfortunately, her dress didn’t fit nearly as divinely as today’s bride’s did!
the bride looks stunning. i do not like kate's dress. I like princess victoria of sweden's dress and princess mary of denmark dresses. thanks charlotte for your post.
ReplyDeletePrincess of Wales looked so beautiful as usual. The color and the style perfect for this ocasion.
ReplyDeletei love will be able to see these ceremonies and see how different their cultures to ours Princess of Wales looked so beautiful as usual. The color and the style perfect for this occasion. they always knows not steal the thunder the bridge looks stunning and look her second wedding gown was so love queen rania looks elegant in the gown and by god the two princess was totally hardworking to help the bride and the groom is so dazzling
ReplyDeleteThe bride is beautiful and her gown stunning. Kate looks amazing I love this dress on her I think it’s so elegant her hair and make up beautiful and the earrings gorgeous I’m not a fan of the clutch. I’m surprised a lot of commenters don’t like this dress. My only quibble is I think the sleeves a fraction too long. Beatrice gorgeous and CP Mary in a beautiful repeat gown. Princess Elizabeth of Belgium looks lovely too. Sue in WA
ReplyDeleteAgree Sue. The dress is really spectacular and C
Deleteatherine looks so wonderful.
Kate’s dress is a no for me in this form. The original, with its sheer panels on the bodice and skirt, alleviated the heaviness of the embellishment. I’d like to see it reworked with structured cap sleeves for future PoW wearings. The bride looked lovely. Absolutely impeccable tailoring and structure there. Wish I could see what P. Rajwa’s earrings look like on the opposite ears.
ReplyDeleteI think Kate looks lovely even with these high resolution photos! She is gorgeous simply put!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this extensive report, Charlotte.
ReplyDeleteI like the dress that Kate wore to the wedding, but the lining to make it more modest made it look too heavy for summer. I felt hot just looking at Kate in it. I think it suited Kate very well, though. I think Beatrice looked wonderful in both her dresses. She has really upped her style game. I'm attributing her post marriage looks to Edo's input. I think the Jenny Packham gown looked wonderful on Princess Mary, and the pose in the picture just made her look stunningly elegant. On Kate, I thought it looked like a pedestrian choice. There just seemed to be too much going on- too much sparkle dulls down the whole look.
I thought the bride's wedding dress was perfection- the seeming simplicity of the dress, and the movement and shape of the train was just an elegant and stunning look. I was a bit surprised by her banquet dress. It was a big change from the style sensibility of the wedding dress. I personally don't care for the hoooped and appliqued look, but the bride looked wonderful, and the back of the gown was exquisite.