Jordan's Crown Prince is celebrating his wedding today, Thursday, in a grand ceremony that is being closely followed, with hopes from the country's leaders that it will bolster local and global alliances. Jordan's leaders have long received support from the West as a pillar of stability in a troubled region. Prince Al-Hussain (28 years old), who was appointed Crown Prince by his father King Abdullah in 2009, is set to marry Saudi architect Rajwa Al-Seif (29 years old), who hails from a prominent family with ties to the ruling family in her country.
Jordan has historically relied on the West to support its economy and is one of the largest recipients of American and European aid on a per capita basis. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to attend the wedding, according to Jordanian officials, along with members of royal families from Europe and Asia, and prominent American figures, including First Lady Jill Biden. British Prince William and his wife Kate are also in attendance.
The wedding is also a significant step for Prince Al-Hussain on his path to the throne. Officials and insiders have noted that King Abdullah feels more confident that stability in his country will be further consolidated now. The king had previously relieved his younger half-brother, Prince Hamzah, of his position as Crown Prince in 2004. Prince Hamzah was later accused of conspiring to overthrow the king in a plot orchestrated from abroad; however, Jordan has not experienced the upheaval that has toppled leaders in the region and has relatively survived the turmoil that has affected the area over the past decade.
The West sees Jordan as a reliable ally amid regional unrest. In recent years, Prince Al-Hussain, a Georgetown University graduate and Sandhurst Military Academy alumnus, has increasingly taken on tasks of the country’s future monarch, meeting with world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden. During the Arab summit hosted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last month, he walked alongside his father to greet the Saudi Crown Prince, and the three took photos together. In Jordan, Prince Al-Hussain can regularly be seen presiding over government meetings.
In line with the Hashemite family's traditions, public celebrations will begin once Prince Al-Hussain and his bride sign their marriage contract at the Zahran Palace in Amman. Jordanians will witness their future King and Queen in a procession that will stretch for ten kilometers through the city streets under tight security.
Despite the flaws of the monarchy, many Jordanians express a preference for its continuation, citing years of conflict that have plagued neighboring countries, Iraq and Syria. Alia Ibrahim, a teacher at a private school in Amman, noted that for them, the Hashemite family is a safeguard for the country.
The United States maintains military bases in Jordan and conducts joint training regularly. The kingdom's economy is recovering slowly after years of stagnated growth and high unemployment under the latest of the International Monetary Fund's many programs for the country. However, many have taken to the streets in protests against living pressures, including last year's demonstrations over rising fuel prices, which were marked by riots and fatalities. Some have criticized the Crown Prince's wedding as a waste of public resources.
