Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Miss Rajwa Khalid Alseif: June 1, 2023

[rebbevb]

Do we know why HRH Princess Haya of Jordan wasn't there?

 

[Adda]

Do we know why HRH Princess Haya of Jordan wasn't there?

I'm not sure she can leave the UK without being concerned about the [her ex-husband] trying to hurt her, her half-brother would of course offer protection in their homeland. But she might have decided to stay home.

 

[Alisa]

Pavlos isn’t really close to them and his ties are more to Queen Noor.

I misunderstood and the Middletons were at the reception not the ceremony. It makes sense that the ceremony were for current royals and/or active heads of states.

Well, do you realise the capacity of Westminster Abbey comparing to that small room yesterday´s wedding took place...? W A is about a "100 times" bigger than that room - so, much more room for many more people, right? Beyond that, the family of the Princess of Wales is of course, closer "related" so to speak, to King Charles as it is the closest family of his daughter-in-law while all the excluded Royals you named are hardly acquainted to the jordanian bridal couple. They were invited not because of personal ties, but rather because it is the way to be done when a monarch or a future monarch gets married. CP Hussein know these people, of course, by name or has met them may be once or twice in his life, but I don´t think he has a special bond to, let´s say, the King of the Belgians, the First Lady of the US or Nancy Pelosi!

I stand corrected, they were at the reception not the ceremony. Your logic makes no sense. In that case why did we not see the family of CP Mary of Prince Daniel of Sweden in Jordan? It would make more sense for us to see the Earl and Countess of Wessex and/or Princess Anne and husband there as they have interacted over many years with the Jordanian royals.

 

[4Pam]

^^^ I was wondering why she wasn't there. That explanation makes sense. Thank you.

 

[Alisa]

Pavlos isn’t really close to them and his ties are more to Queen Noor.

I misunderstood and the Middletons were at the reception not the ceremony. It makes sense that the ceremony were for current royals and/or active heads of states.

 

[susiewong]

It’s very sad that Queen Noor and all her children have been cut off but it seems to stem when the crown Prince was changed an$ not her son

 

[Adda]

It’s very sad that Queen Noor and all her children have been cut off but it seems to stem when the crown Prince was changed an$ not her son

Only Hamzah was missing.
Prince Hashim -who is very close to Abdullah- and Princess Raiyah were present at the celebrations.

 

[Biri]

It’s very sad that Queen Noor and all her children have been cut off but it seems to stem when the crown Prince was changed an$ not her son

Princess Rayiah and her husband Fares Donovan were present, as well as Prince Hashim with his wife Fahdah and their children.

 

[Spheno]

That´s not answering the question why he is always accompanied by this particular son and not by his wife (I guess he has several...)...!

he has only one wife, Saleha.

with queen Saleha
https://c8.alamy.com/zoomsde/9/f6077a32366a45898d4192fb2216b82c/djpbrb.jpg

from wikipedia:
Only Hassanal Bolkiah and his two sons; Al-Muhtadee Billah and Abdul Mateen carry out government duties full-time.

=> Al-Muhtadee Billah acts as regent while Mateen goes with his father.

 

[Adda]

Official wedding portraits.
Bride and groom.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1664675894340747282

https://twitter.com/x/status/1664676435049447436

With the fam.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1664679611987263491

 

[Muhler]

The DK tabloid claims CP Mary is being praised to high heaven all over the Net for her curtsying technique https://www.bt.dk/royale/kronprinsesse-mary-gaar-viralt-med-sin-teknik-hun-bliver-skamrost

I haven't checked whether that is true, but here is a video for your viewing pleasure.

Anyway, for me as someone who is interested in uniforms, it was a delightful wedding. Especially a gentleman standing next to the King, when he greeted the guests. A Khazak, unless I'm very much mistaken! In Jordan?!?
He is incidentally also seen in the back of the video link I posted.

 

[Adda]

Anyway, for me as someone who is interested in uniforms, it was a delightful wedding. Especially a gentleman standing next to the King, when he greeted the guests. A Khazak, unless I'm very much mistaken! In Jordan?!?
He is incidentally also seen in the back of the video link I posted.

I know, right?

The guards at Zahran palace reminded me of Tsar Nikolay and the poor little Tsarevich in Cossack uniform.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/744501382140487301/

 

[victor1319]

Anyway, for me as someone who is interested in uniforms, it was a delightful wedding. Especially a gentleman standing next to the King, when he greeted the guests. A Khazak, unless I'm very much mistaken! In Jordan?!?
He is incidentally also seen in the back of the video link I posted.

These dudes in the uniforms from the Caucasus: They are descendents of Caucasians, which fled to Jordan, when Imperial Russia conquered the Caucasus in the 19th century.

They played a crucial role in establishing the rule of the House of the Hashemites over Jordan, after the Hashemites were driven out of Mecca by the Sauds.

(The 'Hashemites': Name of the reigning dynasty in Jordan.)

The inhabitants of Jordan were not very glad about their new rulers, but the Caucasians guarded them while camping around their premises and helped them to establish their rule over the land.

 

[Archduchess Zelia]

Only Hamzah was missing.
Prince Hashim -who is very close to Abdullah- and Princess Raiyah were present at the celebrations.

Do you have a picture of Iman? Because I didn't see her.

 

[Muhler]

I know, right?

The guards at Zahran palace reminded me of Tsar Nikolay and the poor little Tsarevich in Cossack uniform.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/744501382140487301/

These dudes in the uniforms from the Caucasus: They are descendents of Caucasians, which fled to Jordan, when Imperial Russia conquered the Caucasus in the 19th century.

They played a crucial role in establishing the rule of the House of the Hashemites over Jordan, after the Hashemites were driven out of Mecca by the Sauds.

(The 'Hashemites': Name of the reigning dynasty in Jordan.)

The inhabitants of Jordan were not very glad about their new rulers, but the Caucasians guarded them while camping around their premises and helped them to establish their rule over the land.

Indeed. It is an archetypical traditional Cossack uniform. The Cossacks, many of whom being Christian descendants of Turkish nomadic tribes were settled in the Russian border regions to act like a buffer.
However other settled and mixed with Caucasians and during the 1800s the Caucasus was conquered by the Russian in an even for the time, very brutal manner! Especially the Circassians. They were simply wiped out, a deliberate policy of genocide. I shall spare you for more details.
Anyway, some of the Circassians fled to the Ottoman empire, despite being Christian. Jordan at the time was a part of the Ottoman empire, so it's far from implausible to conclude that a number ended up serving as very reliable bodyguards - and enforcers - in places like Jordan. Being outsiders and having nowhere to go and the safety of their families relying on whom they served, they would most likely be extremely reliable.

 

[tommy100]

She is in the group picture of the JRF I'll try find a link now

Edit - link taken from Adda's post above

https://twitter.com/x/status/1664679611987263491

 

[Prinsara]

Anyway, some of the Circassians fled to the Ottoman empire, despite being Christian. Jordan at the time was a part of the Ottoman empire, so it's far from implausible to conclude that a number ended up serving as very reliable bodyguards - and enforcers - in places like Jordan. Being outsiders and having nowhere to go and the safety of their families relying on whom they served, they would most likely be extremely reliable.

"You have blue eyes. Are you a Circassian?"

"Yes, effendi."

— from Lawrence of Arabia

 

[Alison H]

There are quite a lot of Circassians in Jordan and Israel.

James Matthews was definitely there with Pippa and Carole, according to my morning paper. I'd love to know how they came to be invited. The Middletons were ordinary air stewards when they lived in Jordan, and definitely wouldn't have been hob-nobbing with royalty.

 

[Stefan]

With the fam.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1664679611987263491

But it seems only with the Jordanian RF. There are so numerous. Can't recognize them all is i'm not so familiar with the extended Family.

 

[LaBettie]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1664624435607863296

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner spotted at the banquet. Who took and released a photo of Ivanka chatting with William? What cameras were allowed inside? Some people are going to have a field day with this. No matter their status in the US, still invited to the Jordanian royal wedding. Same as Jill Biden, Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry. The English translator on the live feed kept saying “friendly” and why yes the Jordanians are friends with a wide range of people.

 

[tommy100]

I think the JRF are trying to keep everyone happy and keep in with everyone on all sides...

 

[Saragli]

Jordan values it's relationship with the States very much so makes sense to see democrat and republican "politicians" there. On a side note, I love Ivanka's gown.

 

[fandesacs2003]

Sheikha Moza represented the Emir of Qatar.

The Crown Prince of Bahrain was also there with the third in line, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa. I believe they also mentioned Sheikh Ahmad Al Abdullah Al Sabah and Sheikha Muna Al-Klaib of Kuwait, the Crown Prince of Oman, and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.



I don't think so. Bowing and curtsying is a European custom, not an Arab one.

I noticed also that only european invitees curtsey. None else

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Do we know why HRH Princess Haya of Jordan wasn't there?

We didn't really see her out and about. Only when she attended Court for her divorce. Maybe she was affraid for her security by leaving UK, maybe she didn't want to leave her kids alone behind.

But she posted a message in her Instagram acc:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs79PhMgwxw/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==



Also Jordan is a délicate place as she doesn't want to destroy relations of the country with Dubai. .
By the way, none Emirati royal attended.

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[Tatiana Maria]

A press release with details of the pre-wedding dinner hosted by the King:

https://petra.gov.jo/Include/InnerPage.jsp?ID=50414&lang=en&name=en_news

Jordan Palace has announced that Rajwa will now be called HRH Princess Rajwa Al Hussein.

In Jordan and many middle eastern Countries, the wife of the Crown Prince is not given the title Crown Princess.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1664284815590584325

It's weird she wasn't given the title of CP because she is likely going to be the next Queen consort.

Does a title specific to wives of heirs to thrones exist in Arabic? If her title in Arabic is the same as that of the wives of younger sons, then it would make sense to be consistent with that in the English translation.

 

[Magnolia471]

Indeed. It is an archetypical traditional Cossack uniform. The Cossacks, many of whom being Christian descendants of Turkish nomadic tribes were settled in the Russian border regions to act like a buffer.
However other settled and mixed with Caucasians and during the 1800s the Caucasus was conquered by the Russian in an even for the time, very brutal manner! Especially the Circassians. They were simply wiped out, a deliberate policy of genocide. I shall spare you for more details.
Anyway, some of the Circassians fled to the Ottoman empire, despite being Christian. Jordan at the time was a part of the Ottoman empire, so it's far from implausible to conclude that a number ended up serving as very reliable bodyguards - and enforcers - in places like Jordan. Being outsiders and having nowhere to go and the safety of their families relying on whom they served, they would most likely be extremely reliable.

Cossacks and Circassians were not the same. Cossacks are ethic Russians and Ukrainians from Southern Russia.
Circassians were an indigenous Caucasus population not Turkish tribe, also Circassians were predominantly Sunna Muslims not Christian.
Their uniform are similar to Georgians and other Caucasus ones and it's called Chokha and it's not a cossack uniform. Pre-existing before Russians invaded their territory.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chokha

Circassians repopulated the capital Amman in between 1878 and 1910, when they were resettled. It was thousands of them not just few. Many Amman citizens have Circassian origin.

 

[karmen_lii]

We didn't really see her out and about. Only when she attended Court for her divorce. Maybe she was affraid for her security by leaving UK, maybe she didn't want to leave her kids alone behind.
Also Jordan is a délicate place as she doesn't want to destroy relations of the country with Dubai. .
By the way, none Emirati royal attended.

Sent from my SM-A426B using The Royals Community mobile app

uae's sheikh khalid attend the wedding

 

[Somebody]

The Hashemite cousins, sans Hamzah's kids.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1664418499039559680

Can anyone identify all the cousins? I recognize some but many others I don't.

Did Rajwa’s parents curtsey to their majesties and highnesses they were greeting at the reception?

I noticed also that only european invitees curtsey. None else

I didn't see them curtsying but I did see a Japanese princess curtsying to them for some unknown reason.

Well, do you realise the capacity of Westminster Abbey comparing to that small room yesterday´s wedding took place...? W A is about a "100 times" bigger than that room - so, much more room for many more people, right? Beyond that, the family of the Princess of Wales is of course, closer "related" so to speak, to King Charles as it is the closest family of his daughter-in-law while all the excluded Royals you named are hardly acquainted to the jordanian bridal couple. They were invited not because of personal ties, but rather because it is the way to be done when a monarch or a future monarch gets married. CP Hussein know these people, of course, by name or has met them may be once or twice in his life, but I don´t think he has a special bond to, let´s say, the King of the Belgians, the First Lady of the US or Nancy Pelosi!

I don't understand your argument. What does the size of Westminster Abbey have to do with attending a wedding in Jordan. And why would the in-laws of the British heir to the throne be invited to the wedding reception of the heir of a foreign royal family? I didn't see any other in-laws of either monarchs or heirs; for example, Mary's in-laws weren't there, neither were Daniel's or Máxima's...

So, I guess it has more to do with their 'Jordanian' history (they lived in Jordan for several years in the eighties) of course in combination with their daughter now being married to the future king of the UK, which somehow led to some kind of link to the Jordanian royal family.

Official wedding portraits.
With the fam.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1664679611987263491

Can anyone help identifying all the family members?

 

[maria-olivia]

Is the Monarchy popular in Jordan ?
Amman must has been in high Security with all the Head of States . Who paid it ?

 

[Muhler]

Cossacks and Circassians were not the same. Cossacks are ethic Russians and Ukrainians from Southern Russia.
Circassians were an indigenous Caucasus population not Turkish tribe, also Circassians were predominantly Sunna Muslims not Christian.
Their uniform are similar to Georgians and other Caucasus ones and it's called Chokha and it's not a cossack uniform. Pre-existing before Russians invaded their territory.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chokha

Circassians repopulated the capital Amman in between 1878 and 1910, when they were resettled. It was thousands of them not just few. Many Amman citizens have Circassian origin.

Thank you.

I stand corrected and learned something.
I based my post on a docu I saw a couple of years ago.

Indeed the current uniform (today more familiar in the West as the "typical" Cossack uniform) is from the 1600s IIRC. The "thingies" on both sides of the chest being prepared loads for muskets. In west, south and central Europe at the time they were called Apostles, because the musketeers usually carried twelve of them. The cartridges were bigger as well, because musketeers were infantry with heavy muskets, in contrast to Caucasians and Cossacks who were (light) cavalry.

And indeed thousands fled Circassia, those remaining being killed, or literally "culturally raped" to extinction. Because the ethnicity of the child followed the father... Something that was systematically used in former Yugoslavia as well during the 1990's.

So it would hardly be a wonder if they remained fiercely loyal to, in this case, the Kings of Jordan. Considering what their people went through.

ADDED:

Did some reading on the Circassian guard. From Wikipedia and Osprey publishing.
Currently the guard consists of 14 men especially selected from Circassians living in Jordan, some 100.000 people in total.
It is today a predominantly ceremonial unit and as such undergo a longer training period with emphasis on ceremonial and protocol but also basic security. - Together with dedicated professional bodyguards they will if need be protect the royal family inside the palaces.
That was also the job of the unit when it was formed. I.e. to provide security inside the palaces. With other Jordanian units performing guard duty outside the palaces, perimeter security and heavy reinforcements in case of a dedicated well armed attempt of staging a coup.
Back to the Circassians. Being inside the palaces, meant being close to the royal family, which meant they had to be especially loyal and trusted and it also meant they might see and hear things that no one was supposed to know about and thus keep quiet about. In short: The traditional roles of drabants/praetorians and similar guard units.

 

[Marchesina]

Kate’s parents worked in Jordan for some years and probably met King Hussein via his pilot job and probably met the family a few times. I don’t think the Matthews family have any ties to the Jordanians because I don’t recall Pippa’s husband being there.

James Matthews, Pippa's husband, was actually attending and he has been spotted a couple of times during the coverage.

You can actually see all three of them (Carole, Pippa and her husband James) leaving in this clip

https://twitter.com/x/status/1664321979476852745