Queen Rania of Jordan recently celebrated her son Crown Prince Hussein’s 30th birthday with a heartfelt Instagram post that also highlighted the upcoming arrival of her first grandchild. The royal mom shared a touching photo of her son and his wife, Princess Rajwa, who is expecting their first child. The image captured the couple looking off to the side, with Rajwa elegantly showcasing her baby bump in a fitted cream dress.
“Happy birthday my dearest Hussein. Can’t wait to see you and Rajwa as parents!” Queen Rania captioned the post, expressing her excitement for the new phase in their lives. This birthday marks a significant milestone for Crown Prince Hussein, as it is his last before stepping into the role of a father.
The announcement of the royal couple’s pregnancy came in April, and they are expecting their first child this summer. The couple recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary on June 1. In an interview with Al Arabiya, Crown Prince Hussein shared his enthusiasm about becoming a parent, stating that he and Rajwa are “very excited about the new phase” and acknowledging that “everything will change with” kids.
Crown Prince Hussein also revealed that Queen Rania has been eagerly preparing for her grandchild’s arrival. “My mother has already started shopping for baby stuff weeks ago,” he shared. “Hopefully it will be a wonderful phase.” Queen Rania has previously expressed her desire to become a grandmother, stating on Good Morning America in 2022 that she anticipated her favorite title of “mama” would soon change to the Arabic word for grandma. “My goal is to be like a fun grandma,” she added, highlighting the special bond she hopes to share with her grandchild.
The Royal Hashemite Court announced on April 10 that King Abdullah and Queen Rania would become first-time grandparents. The news was met with joy and anticipation, as the royal family looks forward to welcoming the new addition. According to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s constitution, the throne passes to male heirs, meaning that if Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa’s child is a boy, he will enter the line of succession. If the baby is a girl, there will be no change to the line of succession. Regardless of the baby’s gender, the new addition will receive the titles of His/Her Royal Highness and prince/princess.
Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa’s journey to parenthood comes just 10 months after their royal wedding, which was attended by royals from around the world, including Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Princess Beatrice from the U.K. The wedding festivities in Amman featured a glamorous banquet with evening gowns and tiaras, celebrating the union of the couple.
Rajwa was warmly welcomed into the royal family following her engagement announcement in 2022. In a speech at a pre-wedding event, Queen Rania expressed her happiness, saying, “I’ll never forget how happy His Majesty and I were when Al Hussein told us he wanted to marry Rajwa. She is the perfect answer to all my prayers for him. May you always be each other’s source of happiness and support.”
Queen Rania also hosted a Henna party for Rajwa ahead of the wedding, celebrating with family and friends at the Royal Hashemite Court’s Madareb Bani Hashem. The event was attended by Queen Rania’s daughters, Princess Iman and Princess Salma, as well as Rajwa’s mother, Azza Al Sudairi. During the celebration, Queen Rania described Rajwa as “the perfect answer to all my prayers” for her son, and the bride-to-be was seen dabbing her eyes as her future mother-in-law spoke.
The Henna party featured performances of traditional Jordanian and Saudi songs by local artists, as well as a Zaffeh for the bride-to-be and Henna drawing for guests. Rajwa looked stunning in an ensemble by Saudi designer Honayda Serafi, and her veil was embroidered with words by Tunisian poet Abu al-Qasim al-Shabi that translate to: “I see you, and life becomes more beautiful.”
As the royal family prepares for the arrival of the new baby, Queen Rania’s excitement is palpable. She recently celebrated her own birthday surrounded by loved ones, sharing photos from a family gathering on Instagram. In one image, she is seen sitting at a restaurant between her husband King Abdullah II and daughter-in-law Princess Rajwa, with Crown Prince Hussein seated next to his wife. The Queen expressed her gratitude, writing, “I thank my lucky stars for each and every one of you! Your Majesty, my family, and all the wonderful Jordanians out there, you have made me feel truly special.”
The past year has been eventful for Queen Rania, with her daughter Princess Iman getting married in March, followed by Crown Prince Hussein’s wedding in June. The King and Queen also celebrated their daughter Princess Salma’s college graduation and their son Prince Hashem’s high school graduation in May. As the family looks forward to the arrival of the new baby, Queen Rania’s joy and anticipation are evident, marking a new chapter in the royal family’s life.
Source: People, Good Morning America, Al Arabiya
