Interviews, Speeches, Television appearances of King Abdullah & Queen Rania

[Balqis]

Beautiful Mind

Story by Ed Chamberlin

Effortlessly combining intelligence and glamour, Queen Rania of Jordan has become an esteemed world figure for her promotion of charitable causes and Jordanian tourism, while being the embodiment of the modern, powerful woman.

Ed Chamberlin: What motivates you in your work?

Queen Rania: I am energised by the realisation that there is so much to be done. There is a chance to make a positive difference in the world. Nothing can be more challenging and, at the same time, more rewarding. My main goal is to pass along to the children and youth of this region a better situation than they face now. I want them to grow up with a sense of security and the knowledge that they have all the necessary tools to reach their full potential.

Ed Chamberlin: You are considered by many to be a role model for women. You have consistently stressed the importance of improving the political and economic status of Arab women. Why do you think this is so important?

Queen Rania: It is true that our part of the world has, in many ways, fallen short in terms of women's political empowerment and economic participation. In Jordan, women are beginning to participate more and more in all aspects of civic life. And throughout the region, things are changing for the better.
For example, I would like to mention an initiative launched by the Arab Women's Summit, a group consisting of First Ladies,
representatives from non-governmental organisations and other female officials from many Arab nations. We have created a strategic alliance with Arab media executives and opinion leaders to change perceptions and stereotypes of women in the regional media. And it's working. Media and opinion makers are including more women in substantive, issue-oriented programming. Across the region, articulate women from a number of professional fields are being seen and heard engaging in spirited dialogue in prime- time presentations.

I am proud that Jordan frequently serves as a model for such positive change in the region. However, change is happening not just in Jordan, but throughout the entire Arab world. Female education, for example, has improved faster in Arab countries than in any other region of the world. The literacy gap between men and women is nearly closed in many countries. In Jordan, we have achieved virtually full literacy for both genders. This is an achievement of which I think we Jordanians can rightfully be very, very proud.

Women in our region are making remarkable strides. National dialogues are underway to bring women into the political and
economic mainstream. More and more, people are realising that this is not just the right thing to do, but it will be the economically and professionally wise thing to do as well.

Ed Chamberlin: You were among the first to raise the issue of child abuse in Jordan and have been very much at the forefront of ways to prevent child abuse. Can you tell us about the progress Jordan has made in this area?

Queen Rania: I am glad you asked that question because child safety is something very close to my heart and I have been campaigning vigorously for many years to raise awareness about this issue. I am greatly encouraged by the positive response and proactive initiatives we have had since bringing this problem out in the open in Jordan.
When we originally addressed the matter of child abuse, there was
initial resistance because people were ashamed to admit that such a problem existed in our society. But quickly, once the taboo was
broken, people understood the need to act, and now they support the program fully. Whereas five or ten years ago, you would not have heard frank discussions about child abuse, now we, as a nation, are actively combating the problem. Notable progress is being made. For example, this year on Human
Rights Day, Jordan's Family Protection Unit was honored with a UN Prize for Human Rights for its achievements in combating child abuse.

As a nation, we have committed ourselves to the prevention of, and intervention against, any form of child abuse – physical, psychological or sexual. If we can keep our children out of harm's way, and at the same time keep families together by teaching new ways of interaction, then I feel like we have truly made a difference. We know that you and your husband love to go to Aqaba whenever you are able to get away. Is Aqaba one of your favourite places? And do you have other special places in Jordan? It would be hard to say that I have a "favourite place" in Jordan, because I have so many favourite places. But yes, I do have a special fondness for the natural beauty and peaceful surroundings of Aqaba. The Red Sea is a natural treasure and the nearby areas of Petra and Wadi Rum are spectacular. But then, that is
very well known. So many moviemakers have already captured their unique landscape and made it famous to global audiences.

Ed Chamberlin: What would you show first-time visitors if you wanted to show them the best of Jordan?

Queen Rania: Oh, that is a difficult choice! I wish that everyone could visit Jordan. I really think that visitors would have the opportunity to see what I like to call the "real Middle East." They would not see a region full of the negative images that too often fill the television screens. Rather, they would see in Jordan a land rich in culture, with an open and tolerant society populated by peace- loving and hospitable people. This is the Arab and Islamic world which I know and cherish.

I suppose I could be accused of being slightly biased, because, of course, I want everyone to come and see all the special places in Jordan. Most people have heard of Petra, our famous UNESCO World Heritage site. It is truly one of the wonders of the world. But that's just the beginning. We are a small country, but have such variety. Visitors to Jordan can explore Roman ruins in the morning and be pampered at five-star health spas in the afternoon.
History buffs can visit deserted Crusader sites and sports enthusiasts can indulge themselves in the fabled waters of the Red Sea. And, importantly, Jordan is home to many of the sites sacred to the three monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. From spectacular scenery to famous nature reserves, from the silent desert to the bustling streets of Amman, Jordan truly has something for everyone.

I know that, unfortunately, many people are hesitant to travel in these difficult times. This is such a shame because people can learn so much by coming together and learning about each other. Travel builds tolerance, encourages friendship and can go such a long way to overcome fear and misunderstanding.

[Balqis]

Part 2:

Ed Chamberlin: Can you tell us about your efforts to preserve and
encourage Jordan's cultural heritage?

Queen Rania: Nurturing and preserving our cultural and artistic heritage is one of our most important national responsibilities. We have an obligation to protect our historical legacy and to leave our children their birthright of a strong and vibrant culture. Our arts and culture, our crafts and colour; this is what makes ours, and every culture, unique and precious. This is what we must preserve for generations as yet unborn. In the same way, we want to preserve our natural resources and are proud of our highly successful
ecotourism reserves, such as Wadi Dana and Wadi Mujib. And, of course, in the short term, we are anxious to encourage tourism for practical reasons as well. Responsible tourism, devoted to preserving and protecting our pristine natural areas, creates jobs and opportunities, while at the same time introducing welcome guests to the beauties of our land. This is the kind of win-win economic development that I support wholeheartedly. Your readers might be surprised to know about the potential for ecotourism in Jordan. We are working hard to save our natural environment. The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) is active in the development of nature reserves and sustainable development projects, which encourage an enlightened approach to conservation. In the Ajloun area, for example, visitors can visit Roman ruins and a spectacular forested area, where many plant and
animal species, once threatened with extinction, now flourish. And that is just the beginning of our commitment to nature, because we have established over 1,000 nature conservations clubs for young people in schools throughout Jordan. We are looking toward the future, fostering an awareness and love of nature in our young people.

Ed Chamberlin: How do you see Jordan's role in the world? What message do you think Jordan has for the world?

Queen Rania: I believe that Jordan has a unique role to play in this troubled world. We have always enjoyed good relationships with a variety of nations with diverse viewpoints. This is part of our historical heritage and also is an example of the legacy of statesmanship left to us by the late King Hussein.
My husband and I are doing our best to continue that tradition and ensure that Jordan remains a bridge and conduit for encouraging international and inter-religious dialogue. Jordan has a long and proud tradition of promoting tolerance and coexistence between different cultures, religions and nations. We are also working hard to eliminate the kinds of conditions and misunderstandings that sometimes can lead to the growth of hatred or extremism. There is no question; Jordan has its roots and its future in the Arab and Islamic World. These are our antecedents and this is our culture.
Our traditions give us stability in a confusing world and our faith gives us models for behaving with respect and integrity. But this is not a limiting vision. On the contrary, this stability gives us the strength to reach out, with respect, to all other nations. It is so important that we learn not to categorise or stereotype regions or nations. I believe that, more than ever, dialogue and mutual respect are the key elements in our shared global future. Deep down, we all share the same values. We all strive for a better life
for ourselves and, especially, for our children. We all hope to see an end to war. I hope, in my own way, I can help to express that message and from the Arab and Islamic peoples to the world.

QUEEN RANIA RECOMMENDS: MUST-SEE JORDAN SITES FOR YOUR ITINERARY

PETRA
Where?
Three hours drive south of Amman

What?
Jordan's best-known tourist attraction, this UNESCO World Heritage
site, was home to the Nabataens, an Arab people who settled there
over 2,000 years ago. Its spectacular setting inside a narrow desert
gorge attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. Video
cameras too – the final sequence of "Indiana Jones and the Last
Crusade" was filmed there.


WADI DANA
Where?
Two hours drive south of Amman What?
This nature reserve has been inhabited since 4,000BC and today is
protected by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN).
It is composed of breathtaking valleys and mountains, the
archaeological ruins of Feinan and the quite, charming village of
Dana. It is also a great place to see some wildlife, with 600 species
of plants, 37 species of mammals and 190 species of birds found in
the area.

AQABA
Where?
On the edge of the Red Sea in the Gulf of Aqaba.

What?
Featuring beautiful, clean beaches and crystalline water, Aqaba is a
great place to relax, or swim, water-ski and paraglide for the more
active. Places of interest include the Mameluk Fort, a former
crusader's castle; the excavation site of Alya, where city walls,
towers, a mosque and baths have been uncovered; and the site of the
oldest church in the world, dating back to the third century AD.

WADI MUJIB
Where?
On the east coast of the Red Sea

What?
This nature reserve is located in the Wadi Mujib gorge, which varies
in elevation from 410m below sea-level to 900m above. This huge range
has resulted in magnificent biodiversity. The endangered, horned ibex
(above) and big-eared cat, the Caracal, are some of the more
beautiful animals that inhabit this area.

AJLOUN
Where?
In the sprawling pine forests of the Ajloun-Dibbine area in northern
Jordan, 73km north of Amman.

WHAT?
Ajloun Castle was originally built in 1184 to ward off crusaders, who
had already occupied south Jordan. It is one of the best examples of
Arab military architecture. The area is now the subject of an
ecotourism project, designed to protect not only the castle, but also
the pine forest, which is the southernmost in the world.

from: British Airways magazine "Impressions, September 2004

[Balqis]

Focused on the issues

Queen Rania Al-Abdallah of Jordan has devoted much of her time and effort to championing humanitarian and social causes locally, regionally, and internationally. A mother of three and the youngest Queen in the world, she has paid special attention to advancing the status of women in Jordan and the Arab World. She spoke to Dahlia Hammouda about the upcoming Arab Women's Summit that Jordan is hosting on 3 and 4 November -- her expectation for the event, the challenges facing its work and her hopes for the future

What will the agenda for next week's Arab Women's Summit be?
The summit will bring together figures committed to the advancement of women across the Arab World, to openly discuss the challenges and aspirations of women in the region in order to further activate their role in the sustainable development of their communities. This includes first ladies from the Arab World, representatives of women's movements, non-governmental organisations as well as some key international figures.
The summit also aims to coordinate Arab efforts towards ensuring equality between men and women in the Arab community. A strategy and an implementable action plan for the next two years will also be developed to enhance women's political participation and contribution to the economic development of their countries.
A critical part of the discussion will focus on issues that have been raised by the 2002 UNDP Arab Human Development Report. The report acknowledges the progress achieved in human development in the Arab world, but also stresses that much still needs to be done to enable women to capitalise on their capabilities. It draws our attention to the fact that the basis of good governance lies in the promotion of human rights and the protection of human freedoms.

We understand the summit will be witnessing the launch of the Arab Women's Organisation, provided a certain number of countries ratify its creation. What is standing in the way of securing these signatures?
I wouldn't say there is anything standing in the way. However, establishing a new organisation of such impact and weight, with a membership of 22 Arab countries, requires time and effort. It has to be an open process whereby we discuss the various issues and ideas, and come to agreement on them.
I believe it is just a matter of time until we witness the actual creation of this organisation.

What does Your Majesty expect the organisation's most vital aims will be?
To empower our societies, we need to empower our women. We therefore have an important role to play in unifying Arab and international perceptions on women's issues in order to promote their status, develop their capacities and empower them to play an efficient role in nation building.
The organisation will help in placing women's issues at the forefront of the agenda of the international community and the Arab world in order to upgrade women's conditions at all levels and in all aspects of life. The organisation could work on further improving women's skills to encourage them to actively participate in the economic development process. The organisation can also provide information through professional research on key issues relevant to the needs of Arab women.

Will acquiring financial support for the work of the Arab Women's Organisation be a matter of concern?
As with any new organisation, securing financial support can be a challenge. However, due to the importance of such an organisation, the likelihood is high that it will succeed in generating the financial and technical assistance necessary to grow into an independent, active and sustainable organisation.

What are your thoughts on the progress of Arab women in the past few years, particularly women in Jordan?
Arab women have made tremendous progress in the past few years, and this has been most evident in the field of education. As the Arab Human Development Report states, women's literacy rates have expanded threefold since 1970, and female primary and secondary enrollment rates have more than doubled.
A lot of effort has also been exerted to improve the lives of women in Jordan, especially women living in less privileged areas. The progress being made in this field is an accomplishment. In many areas across the kingdom, women are not only feeling the need to take part in the economic development process, but they are making real change on the ground.
I have been fortunate enough to witness this first hand, where I have visited a lot of centres that have been set up to provide women with training on how to establish their own businesses and provide them with work opportunities. However, there is still much to be done to increase women's participation in different fields of life and in different areas of nation building. Women continue to be a minority in the workforce. There are still some laws that discriminate against them, and certain cultural and social perceptions still work against them. We have some real issues and challenges to deal with.
The summit will focus on some of these issues and discuss them in an open manner.

Al-Ahram Weekly 2002

[Balqis]

HOLA! cover February 2005

[Balqis]

AMMAN (JT) — Around 30 students from different parts of the Kingdom
were overwhelmed to find that their volunteer teacher for the day was
Her Majesty Queen Rania.

Teaching a class of ninth graders, the Queen highlighted the
qualities of a good leader, most importantly the significance of
utilizing these skills to effect positive change and development in
society.

This was illustrated through a case study that was reviewed by the
students, followed by an interactive discussion with the
participation of INJAZ co-volunteer Linda Qarous from the private
sector.

Students from 15 government schools from Amman, Irbid, and Zarqa
attending Tuesday's INJAZ class at Queen Zein Al Sharaf School were
inspired and encouraged by Queen Rania's interest in issues and
active participation in the dialogue.

The class discussed how a successful leader should possess and uphold
the virtues of honesty, modesty and delegation of responsibility, and
capitalise on experts in the field in order to bring about positive
development.

The case study showcased how a chemical plant affected a nearby
agricultural village and its inhabitants. The students split up into
groups to come up with solutions to the problem. During the
discussion, Queen Rania noted that all aspects of the problem need to
be studied and thoroughly addressed while making citizens aware of
the issue in order to lobby for change in a positive and effective
manner.

Underlining that the approach should be objective, the Queen
discussed the solutions to the problem presented by the students,
noting that individuals have a major role in making their voices
heard, based on concrete knowledge and raising awareness on the
issue.

"A good leader controls and contains the problem, and is able to turn
the negative aspects to achieve positive change for the better,"
Queen Rania told the class, adding "an obstacle or problem should be
our incentive to find solutions and improve any situation."

Queen Rania said the problem-solving approach adopted in Tuesday's
class could be applied to any situation, citing as an example the
issue of the group that was planning subversive acts in the Kingdom.
She stressed that citizens' awareness of preserving the country's
stability and security reflected their loyalty to the country.

The Queen noted that Jordanians demonstrated they were sharing the
responsibility together with officials and security forces to abort
any plans that could undermine the country's and citizens' best
interests.

The Economic Opportunities for Jordanian Youth Program (INJAZ), the
country's first initiative aimed at building the skills of Jordan's
future workforce to help the economy compete globally, was initiated
in 1999 and launched as a Jordanian nonprofit organisation by Queen
Rania in 2001. Supported by 60 private sector companies and the US
Agency for International Development (USAID), INJAZ operates in
Amman, Zarqa, Irbid, Maan, Tafileh and Aqaba, serving Ministry of
Education, UNRWA and military schools. The initiative provides
learning experiences for young people aged between 14 to 24 to
increase their economic opportunities and empowering Jordanian youth
to realise their dreams

Reaching 16,701 students a semester, private sector volunteers serve
as role models giving 15 hours of their time to work with a class of
25 students based on the participatory learning approach, which
fosters creative thinking, critical problem-solving and interpersonal
communication skills to help students develop life skills and gain an
understanding of business and economics.

The Queen joined students in previous sessions organised by INJAZ
bringing together students from different parts of the Kingdom with
officials, allowing youth to take an active role in issues of concern
to the country at large.

With over 60 per cent of the population under the age of 25, Queen
Rania is active in promoting a better understanding of the needs of
young people and the means to address them. She supports initiatives
to promote communication and dialogue among young people and with the
nation's decision makers, underlining "youth are the tools of change
and we must reap the benefits of their contributions."

April 2004

[Balqis]

Keynote Address Delivered by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah

La Roche College

2002 Commencement

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
May 4, 2002


Monsignor Kerr …
Members of the Faculty …
Parents, Friends …
and Graduates of the Class of 2002:

Good morning, and thank you for such a warm welcome. Monsignor Kerr, I thank you and the faculty for this honorary degree. To me, it is a very real honor. Because, I know that this degree is not a piece of paper about something I did. Instead, it is a "welcome letter" to an international community … a community of La Roche friends and alumni around the world … a community of men and women who are really living the message of Pacem in Terris…Peace on earth…through their professional lives and their public service. And I'm very proud to be counted as one among you.
But we are really here to celebrate these graduating students. Graduates, no one knows better than you, the hard work and many hours that led to this day. Gandhi called students "searchers." I congratulate you on searching and researching your way through all the obstacles, to cross the finish line today.
Monsignor, I know that you and the faculty must be very proud of today's graduates. Your own talent and hard work shines through their achievements.
And, everyone: please, join me in honoring the most important people in our gathering – the ones whose love and support helped make this day happen – the mothers and fathers and families of the graduating class.
… Let me tell you … as a mother of three children under the age of eight, I look at you parents as proof that survival is possible!
But I also look at you students, and remember just how it felt to be in your shoes.
Graduation is a time to think back with relief … and forward, with impatience. You've cracked the books. You've passed the exams. You studied, debated, listened, learned. More importantly, you have learned the essential modern day art of subsisting on pizza alone.
Your education has given you wings. Now, you are set to soar – searching out a new future of promise…
But, the flight you make is not for yours' alone. Like Noah's dove, each of you flies out into a waiting world, carrying with you great hopes … the hopes of families, of communities, of countries, of humankind.
In that ancient story of the flood … shared by so many faiths … Noah's dove carried an olive branch, a universal symbol of peace. It was his gift to those who waited for a sign of hope for a better world.
You, too, are carrying something on which many people depend … a branch of hope with three off-shoots: … knowledge, character and compassion.

The Gift of Knowledge

The first off-shoot of your La Roche education is knowledge. Possess it, and you possess the key to a world of ability and innovation – in business, in healthcare, in technology, in teaching. The analytical skills and information you have learned here will help you create a future for yourselves … and many others. Through your knowledge and talent, you will help nations bloom.
Today, countries across the globe are realizing that to succeed, we must invest in education and research. For, like the living leaf, our knowledge must keep growing – reaching more people; promising a better future. Yet today, over 120 million children around the world never even get the chance to go to school, and millions more receive poor educations that don't equip them to compete.
I was always taught that from those to whom much is given, much is expected. We who have had good educations have a special ability to give back. We can do something about the world's grievances … and we must.
But if we are to succeed, knowledge of things is not enough. In college, surrounded by people of different backgrounds and experiences, you have acquired the most noteworthy kind of knowledge … the knowledge of people. Here at La Roche, you have had the special opportunity to interact closely with students from around the world. You've experienced for yourselves how interconnected this world is. You have learned how much we have in common … the values we share … the positive results of teamwork and the team spirit.

The Gift of Character

This kind of knowledge, this deep knowledge about the nature of humanity, leads to the second off-shoot of your education, and that is character. The character to respect the dignity of every human being – starting with yourself. To honor your personal ideals: your family and national heritage, even as you reach out to a wider world.
In a world of "many," the real lesson of life is, "we are one." This lesson is especially important at a time when those who harp on differences would divide and separate us. I believe we must keep our doors – and schools – and minds – open, to share and build on our common humanity.
In fact, I suspect that after your experiences here, you probably could teach many global policy-makers a thing or two. You know the dangers of a "do it my way or no way" mentality. You know the importance of putting oneself in someone elses' place and seeing through his … or her … eyes.
Indeed, this understanding is part of the American way of life at its best … which respects the individuality that makes all people different, and at the same time, makes us fundamentally, humanly, the same.
Character grows out of everyday actions. No one is born a Mother Teresa. We learn as we go, reaching out to those we live and work with. And when we do, we grow a spirit of community that extends beyond our personal or national boundaries.
I know that just a few months ago, a Pittsburgh-area volunteer fire company named a La Roche student its "Firefighter of the Year." Azeh Atout, who was introduced, became the first woman to win this award – a measure of her neighbors' respect for her character and service. I'm proud to say that she is one of 25 Jordanians participating in the Pacem in Terris program.
I am quite sure that Azeh never dreamed she would someday be honored by America firefighters! And this in a year when America's firefighters showed such extraordinary character themselves on September 11.
We can't always know what life will ask of us, and what challenges lie ahead. However much we learn, however much we experience, we face the unexpected. It is character that carries us through.

The Gift of Compassion

Knowledge of the humanity we share with others, and having the character to act on that knowledge, lead naturally to a third off-shoot of your education at La Roche – compassion.
In this Ark that is the Earth, we do not sail alone. Today, as I look at you, I carry with me the haunting faces of the young people I have been with recently, the victims of the terrible crisis in the Middle East. Their despair calls out to all of us.
Our world needs peace, but it cannot be a peace built on hatred and fear. It must be built on justice and mutual understanding. In the words of Martin Luther King, Junior: "we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."
But there is another, perhaps more compelling reason for our involvement, and that is our self-respect. As human beings, we are called on to take personal responsibility for the well-being of all life. The great faiths, everywhere, recognize this. In the historic encyclical that gave its name to the Pacem in Terris Institute, Pope John the 23rd prayed that the people of the earth might overcome the barriers that divide, cherish the bonds of mutual charity, and become as brothers. My faith, Islam, teaches peace, forgiveness and acceptance. The Koran tells us that to save even one innocent person is to save all humankind. "The Compassionate" is one of the names of God.
Today, everyone can make a difference, and everyone must try. We have no time to waste. We cannot afford to lose another generation to violence and despair. As we reach out for the benefits of 21st Century technology and innovation, we have to fortify our reservoirs of mutual understanding and build great rivers of justice.
It's time to act. My husband, His Majesty King Abdullah, always says: We should exert efforts, not only for the benefit of the generations to come, but for the benefit of our generation.
Tonight, another class of graduates will leave La Roche. The last bags will be packed, the dorms will close, and you will head out into the world.
Some of you will help your homelands find solutions to conflict. Others will find yourselves healing the wounds of ethnic violence. But I know many of you may return to peaceful homes and neighborhoods. You'll start new jobs and families. Maybe you'll feel that your life is just "ordinary."
But no life is ordinary. It takes all of us to build a better world. And each of you have something important to contribute. Through your knowledge, your character, and your compassion, you can make Pacem in Terris – Peace on Earth – real for millions. Take these gifts with you when you leave today, plant them in your native soils, cultivate them as part of your lives … and I guarantee you, you will transform the world.

Congratulations! And thank you very much.

[nilah]

Thank you very much for the articles ,balqis. This thread was a great idea.

[Balqis]

Originally Posted by nilah

Thank you very much for the articles ,balqis. This thread was a great idea.

You're welcome, Nilah. I am glad you think so :)

[Balqis]

If you would like to discuss the role that Rania holds as Queen, First Lady or activist, why don't you please post your comments here. It's very interesting that you seem to have overlooked this much more appropriate thread where articles, speeches and such have been posted detailing Queen Rania's work.

[maryshawn]

Beautiful photo and interesting article about QR's life.

[maryshawn]

Sorry....it won't transfer so you can read so I hope you can bear with my typing.....

HEIR JORDAN

The world's youngest queen is a Palestinian in an ethnically divided country, a modern woman in an ancient role

It was a spectacle worthy of "A Thousand and One Nights." Jordanians from every corner of the country flooded Amman to line up along the flower-strewn, 12 mile route that snaked through the capital city. Troops on camel back appeared as mirages through the shimmering dust their mounts churned up. Tribal bedouins in full desert dress followed, eager to pay their respects. They had all come to celebrate the ascension of King Abdullah II to the throne, which he unexpectedly inherited after the death of his father, King Hussein, four months earlier. But as Abdullah, wearing a ceremonial uniform replete with gold braid and a chestful of medals, stood waving to his cheering subjects from the back of a convertible, it was the radiant woman at his side, Rania, who, at 28 was about to become the world's youngest queen who was the very picture of a monarch: beautiful, elegant, regal, her model's figure shown off to perfection in a traditional silk thaub gown the color of desert sand. Her $2 million diamond-encrusted tiara flashed in the June sun.

Only those closest to Rania knew the tiara was borrowed goods, lent by her sister-in-law, Princess Haya. "Why would I spend a vast amount of money on something I will not wear very often?" explained Rania at the time. And when Throne Day finally wound to a close, Their Majesties Abdullah and Rania retreated not to one of the eight palaces scattered around the capital but to their four-story home on the outskirts of Amman.

An ordinary house instead of a palace, a borrowed tiara? What kind of queen is this? Rania has been Queen for one year and already she is drawing comparisons to Princess Diana. Yet while Rania clearly has the photogenic looks, the glamour, and a talent to reaching out to ordinary people, she is no protocol-jarring rebel, nor is she hampered by the neuroses that tormented Diana. More significantly, Rania and her husband are not figureheads in waiting; they are the actual rulers who must now attempt to lead one of the most troubled Middle Eastern nations into the modern economy.

Although Rania is a hands-on wife and mother, with two small children and another due in September, she is fast becoming a central power broker in Jordanian political affairs. Queen Rania, in fact, has big ideas for the future of the country. She has become a champion for women's rights and child abuse causes--both taboo topics in the traditional muslim state until now. She has advocated every child be taught English so that Jordan can compete in the global market. She has lobbied to introduce computers to the classroom--in a country where many schools lack basic furniture. And with her Palestinian heritage, she has become a symbol for healing of intense ethnic divisions--Palestinians, despite the fact that they make up an estimated 65 percent of the population, are still denied many opportunities.

"The king chose as a bride someone he considers his equal," says Prince Zeid bin Raad, whose father was King Hussein's cousin and who was virtually raised with Abdullah.. "He listens to her ideas. They feed each other's intellectual curiousity. They're a perfect match, two people very comfortable together, who think along the same wavelength, who have the same kind of tempermant. He always has a twinkle in his eye and a sense of mischief. And while she has poise and dignity, she can match him in this. The have a wonderfully warm and mutually supportive relationship."

[maryshawn]

Despite her regal bearings, Rania comes from relatively modest beginnings. She is the daughter of a Palestinian physician who emigrated to Kuwait in 1967 from the West Bank in search of better economic opportunity. Rania grew up with her brother and sister in a second-story apartment on Baghdad Street in Kuwait City. Her father enrolled them all in the very formal New English School, where Rania managed A's in the sciences, math, languages (she's fluent in English and speaks a passable French) but only Bs in English literature, art and music. "She was very quiet and well-behaved," recalls Linda Saba, Rania's best friend. "Our biggest crime was sneaking a transistor radio into school, which was forbidden, so we could listen to the latest pop music on the FM station during break time."

During summer vacation, Rania traveled back to the West Bank to stay in Tulkarm with her aunt and uncle, Fadwa and Khaled Yassin, a retired schoolteacher turned bookstore owner. "She played basketball and chess with my children," her uncle recalls. It was there Rania learned what it meant to be a disenfranchised Palestinian when Israeli troops frequently forced Arabs from their homes, before promptly demolishing them with bulldozers to make way for Jewish settlements.

Years later, while Rania was an undergraduate at the American University in Cairo, studying business administration, her family was forced to leave Kuwait when that country, outraged at King Hussein's decision to align himself with Sadaam Hussein during the Gulf War, expelled all Palestinians. "We were all very upset," says Dima Toukan, 30, whose dorm room was two doors down from Rania's. "We were all so scared it would become a war that would engulf the entire Middle East. We spent all the time huddled around Rania's TV set. Rania and the rest of us were alternately sobbing and consoling one another. Everybody kept trying to reach their families by phone."

Nevertheless, Rania continued her studies there, where she was a rather bookish student. "She had a couple of boyfriends, one Palestinian, one Egyptian but they were just fellow students--nothing serious, just lunch, dinner or a movie," says Toukan. "Mostly, she just went out with a group of friends." Toukan was surprised when Rania approached her during their senior year suggesting they become models. "She told me some French guy from a modeling agency had asked her," recalls Toukan, who thinks they were selected because they are both 5'7"--tall for Arabic women. "But at the last minute, Rania had to back out. Her parents wouldn't let her do it."

After graduating in 1991, Rania moved to Amman, where her parents had relocated. She worked briefly in marketing for Apple Computers and then at Citibank. Then, one evening, in January of 1993, a friend from Apple invited her to a party thrown by King Abdullah's sister, Aisha. There she was introduced to the prince. Although Abdullah had a reputation as a womanizer--"How much of one?" chuckles Prince Zeid with an embarrassed smile. "Let's just say Abdullah was loved by many, er, people." The future king, however, fell hard for Rania.

KH, thrilled by his son's new romance, wanted to hasten an engagement and two months later he drove Abdullah to the apartment building where Rania lived with her parents. In front of the king, Abdullah asked Rania's parents permission to marry their daughter. In June, the couple was married. In the middle of the wedding party, one of Abdullah's army buddies parachuted into the palace garden to cut the cake with a sword and laife was never the same for either of them again.

Until last year, neither Abdullah nor Rania ever knew they would be thrust into the roles of king and queen of Jordan. Although Abdullah is the eldest son of KH, he had been removed from the royal line of succession at the age of three, when KH named Abdullah's uncle, Hassan, Crown Prince (This move was reportedly intended to ensure that Jordan would not be ruled by a small boy in the event KH was assassinated). It was only two weeks before KH's death that he switched the succession back to Abdullah. Virtually without warning, Abdullah--and to a signficant extent, Rania--were handed responsibility for all of Jordan.

It's not a small jobb, even by the standards of heads of state. Jordan is hobbled by a $7 billion international debt. Studies commissioned by KA last year found that while the economy is one of the smallest and poorest in the Middle East, it is supported by only 15% of the workforce because so many work for the huge and bloated government bureacracy. Thirty percent of Jordanians live in abject poverty, which is not surprising as 1 in 3 is unemployed. Living conditions are made worse by perenially acute water shortages that have been exacerbated by a two year drought. In Amman, homes receive water only 2-3 times per week. Outside the capital, food production-always low as only 4 percent of the land is arid--has been devastated.

[maryshawn]

Since being crowned, the royal couple has logged more frequent flier miles than any US Secretary of State to meet with world leaders in a quest for debt relief and investment aid. Heads of state can be moved by peoples' suffering, says Hassan Abu-Nimah, Jordan's ambassador to the UN in New York, par