King Abdullah and Queen Rania, News & Pictures, Part 1

[tayoobeh]

ya it is the same dress
she looked really different back then
and skinny

[Dennism]

Jordan's King Abdullah II receives former Israeli premier and Labor Party chief Shimon Peres at his private residence in Amman 10 February 2004. Peres told the Jordanian monarch the establishment of a Palestinian state holds the key to Middle East peace, Petra news agency said. The opposition Israeli leader was on a "private visit" to Jordan, which made peace with Israel in 1994. Israel's former Labor Party leader and defense minister Benjamin Ben Aliezer is seen in the center of the picture.

http://delivery.gettyimages.com/comp/29599...9006875E90564A4

[barbara_41172]

TIME magazine (the European edition) has put Queen Rania on its recent cover as part of its look into the new generation of Arab women who are becoming prominent and speaking out about the advancement of their gender. This is the second time the Queen has been on the cover of TIME.

Here's a link with a picture of the cover and the article on Arab women:

TIME cover

This link will lead you to the article on Queen Rania herself:

Regarding Rania

The article is very informative and highly timely I believe the Queen is an incredibly positive force for Good in the Middle East. Her work and influence has powerful repercussions.

TC
Barbara

[Dennism]

It is a good article and yes, she has been a good force.

[sheeba]

I thought so to. Untill I read a couple of threads in this section - her gold shoes and spending habits. it looks like she has succeeded in impressing the west and not her subjects.

[madonna23]

did you read about her very own challenger jet? i don't want to sound like i'm looking for something bad to talk about but i've never heard of a first lady having her very own jet...not even here in the states...what do you guys think? extravagence? or am i just being picky?

[mizrahi_girl]

yes! rania is very nice queen!

[Jacqueline]

Originally posted by madonna23@Feb 16th, 2004 - 4:39 pm
did you read about her very own challenger jet? i don't want to sound like i'm looking for something bad to talk about but i've never heard of a first lady having her very own jet...not even here in the states...what do you guys think? extravagence? or am i just being picky?

I never knew that she had her own jet. I have always known first ladies to fly using private planes, but not owning one. Are you sure that it is hers alone, and not one that both she and her husband use?

[micas]

Do you refering Rania??????????
I think Rania have a personal fortune. Do you belive that she spend so much and the parlament don't do nothing?
I red that most of the dress she don't pay. Like many ladys and acretress. The designers give the dress because the"free publeicity". Do just think how many Ellie Saabd became famouse after dress Rania???
In case of England existe a especial found for pay the clothe that some member (royal famelly and wife of blair) wear when they go represent the contrie. Maibe that existe in Jordan. :flower: :flower: :flower:

[Veram98]

the jet is state property at her disposal for official duties.

[madonna23]

it said in the article that it was ordered specifically for her...i.e. it is her jet...no?

[srbjakoska]

new photoes of the King from Petra:

http://www.petra.gov.jo/photos/2004/47/a22.jpg
http://www.petra.gov.jo/photos/2004/47/a21.jpg
http://www.petra.gov.jo/photos/2004/47/a20.jpg
http://www.petra.gov.jo/photos/2004/47/a19.jpg
http://www.petra.gov.jo/photos/2004/47/a18.jpg
http://www.petra.gov.jo/photos/2004/47/a17.jpg
http://www.petra.gov.jo/photos/2004/47/a14.jpg
http://www.petra.gov.jo/photos/2004/47/a13.jpg

King Abdullah and Queen Rania

http://www.petra.gov.jo/photos/2004/47/a16.jpg
http://www.petra.gov.jo/photos/2004/47/a15.jpg

[barbara_41172]

Small correction: this is the first time Queen Rania has appeared on the cover of TIME. The other cover I was initially thinking of is actually Newsweek.

The jet at her disposal doesn't worry me. Queen Elizabeth has planes at her disposal too. Let's not get sidetracked here. The real story is Rania and the enormous work she has done for the benefit of her Arab sisters.

TC
Barbara

[lizfromVA]

Queen Elizabeth has planes at her disposal too

Queen Elizabeth doesn't live in a third world country where a large amount of the population is unemployed and starving, either.

[barbara_41172]

Queen Elizabeth doesn't live in a third world country where a large amount of the population is unemployed and starving, either.

But England has problems with homelessness and unemployment nonetheless. Maybe not in the league of Jordan but I am sure for the fur-wearing billionairess Elizabeth it's peanuts, the money spent for her travel.

This issue with the jet is becoming tiresome. Queen Rania obviously uses it in order to travel for the benefit of Jordan and that means trips for fundraising for the Jordan River Foundation or micro-finance for example. She's not using it just to waste fuel. It is a necessity.

[sheeba]

Actually JK Rowling a single mother who once lived in a council flat is Britains richest woman. the Queens personal fortune is in the millions, I think her counterpart in Holland is alot richer. Over the issue of jets and funds and financing. Monarchy as an institution is there to serve the people. Not the other way round. The monarchies in Europe have the privilege of existing in a democratic society where human rights are respected and not abused and where their spending can be questioned by a democratically elected house of Parliament. So forexample the British Govt and Parliament decommisioned the Royal Yatch Britannia because it was deemed to be wasteful as a form of transport whether the Royal family liked it or not. Hence the tears at the ships decommissioning and not at Dianas funeral. They've always prefered their boats and horses to human beings. No one doubts Queen Ranias committment to equality and her charity work, but lets also put it in perspective in England over 80% of the population volunteer their time for good causes and a significant amount regularly give to charity just because your royal does not mean your efforts for charity is more than everyone else's. I work with 6 charities! And by the way Britain's unemployment is 4% at 1.1 million the lowest in the EU and is a member of the G8 and when a country such as Jordan is aid dependent, it is receiving $460 million + in aid from the US, I don't know what the figure is from the EU. It is not an issue of oh lets not talk about her spending habits again. Roll eyes. If you want people to concentrate on your good works and not your spending habits then don't spend so much money or bloody well be discreet about it. And it is a legitimate question for Jordanians, Americans and European tax payers to ask because its our hard earned money she is spending. I'd also like a jet to ferry me from one charity job to another. I have to bus myself with my own money and nobody pays me back for it.

[trish79nl]

It's so lovely to see that the people love him so much! He is so concerned about his people!

I love him too, he is a great king!!! :flower:

[pegassuss2525]

The jet is the Royal jet. It was probably refurbished and Rania probably had a say in it.

[Humera]

Its not a bad article, though I cant help feeling that its quite full of praise for Rania, not that she doesn't deserve it for her efforts. But I think it shows a very one-sided picture of her, almost as if she's perfect and doesnt deserve some of the criticism she gets. And I dont really believe that Rania really wants to be seen that way. But I suppose she cant help the fact that the western media is so in love with her.

Originally posted by ~*~Humera~*~@Feb 17th, 2004 - 10:51 am
Its not a bad article, though I cant help feeling that its quite full of praise for Rania, not that she doesn't deserve it for her efforts. But I think it shows a very one-sided picture of her, almost as if she's perfect and doesnt deserve some of the criticism she gets. And I dont really believe that Rania really wants to be seen that way. But I suppose she cant help the fact that the western media is so in love with her.

And this is what she wants (to be loved by western media). It is like licking & smooching those who have more power. She is definitelty smart in this sense as she is always strategizing her moves....Besides, she gives herself roles & titles not all the Arab women official representatives have agreed upon or have been consulted before.

For me, I do not deny she is pretty. She dresses VERY WEll with no doubt..Although she connects herself to some charity projects and so on but there is no depth and she is not that considerate...This is how i feel about her. I am glad she is not my queen especially that she gives me the feelings of an opportunistic person...