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Since Monday, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan have been in Washington, DC where they have been meeting with politicians and participating in forums. This is the second working visit to the United States for Their Majesties since last year’s Arab Spring.
 Click here to see more photos of the press conference The King met with U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday and the two held a brief press conference in the Oval Office. They discussed Syria and the ongoing Mideast Peace Process.
Both leaders denounced the violence in Syria. King Abdullah was the first Arab leader to call for President Bashar al-Assad to step down, and Obama agreed that they were “continuing to see unacceptable levels of violence inside that country” and went on to say that the U.S. will “continue to consult very closely with Jordan to create the kind of international pressure and environment that encourages the current Syrian regime to step aside so a more democratic process can take place inside of Syria.”
The King was asked about the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, and he answered, “We have to keep our fingers crossed and hope that we can bring the Israelis and Palestinans out of the impasse.”
Accompanying the Jordanian King and Queen is their eldest son, Crown Prince Hussein. After his father finished meeting with President Obama, Hussein and the King met with Vice President Joe Biden and the Secretary of Defense. These meetings are likely meant to prepare the Crown Prince for his future role as King of Jordan. After all, he will be 18 years old later this year.
While her husband and son were visiting with Washington’s most powerful, Queen Rania was not sitting around. On Tuesday, she attended a United Nations Foundation luncheon at the Newseum. As a board member, Rania discussed ways to make the world better for women and for children.
Her Majesty later attended the event 10×10 – Educate Girls. Change the World.
For Wednesday, King Abdullah met with Treasurer Timothy F. Geithner and talked about the U.S. – Jordanian economic links, and the possibility of providing financial aid to the Hashemite Kingdom. Also at the meeting was Jordanian Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh.
Also that day, the King met with Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who called for Abdullah to do the following:
“Jordan has not yet appointed an ambassador to Israel in the year and a half since the previous ambassador moved on, and I would strongly encourage you to do so,” she told him.
Ros-Lehtinen also agreed with him that the Syrian President should resign.
“I share that view because Iran is certainly doing all it can to keep Syria afloat but the people are rising up,” she said.
On Thursday, King Abdullah II will address the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Sources: USA Today, The Royal Forums, Petra, AFP
On Monday, the King of Jordan set out on one-day visits to the Gulf States as a way to mark the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. King Abdullah II brought with him his son and heir, Crown Prince Hussein, as he went to Kuwait and Qatar.
 Click here for more photos The tiny country of Kuwait was the first stop for the father and son. Arriving at Dasman Palace, the two met with the Emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah. The King and the Emir then sat for talks about bilateral ties, which have strengthened since Jordan and Kuwait renewed them last year. Their ties were strained 20 years ago during the Persian Gulf war.
After the talks, the Emir hosted an iftar banquet for the King and the Crown Prince.
Abdullah, Hussein and their delegation then returned home.
The next day, King Abdullah went to Bahrain for the same reasons. But he did not bring his son with him. Instead, two of his brothers accompanied him – Prince Feisal and Prince Hashim.
For Wednesday, Crown Prince Hussein joined his father to Qatar, where Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his son and heir, Sheikh Tamim, greeted them at Al-Wajba Palace. All four sat during the talks between His Majesty and the Emir, who discussed bilateral ties and issues concerning the Middle East.
As they did in Kuwait, King Abdullah and Crown Prince Hussein were then guests of honor for an iftar banquet given by the Emir and his son.
Right afterwards, the father and son headed back to Jordan.
Sources: The Jordan Times
On Monday, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and his son and heir, Crown Prince Hussein, went to the Southern Badia region to meet with the Al Hweitat tribal leaders. They went to discuss development projects in the region but also to praise the Al Hweitat for their support of the monarchy during the protests from the past three months.
- Click here to see more pics at Daylife
King Abdullah told the 2,000 representatives of the Al Hweitat that Jordan will move ahead with reform and modernization in line with a clear vision to build the best future that citizens deserve and provide a decent living for all.
The King said he was aware of the struggles the Jordanians were facing but said he was confident in his people and their loyalty to the monarchy. “Jordan will remain stronger than any challenges with the determination of its people and through preserving national unity any confronting any attempts to harm the Kingdom or tamper with its security and stability.”
Stressing allegiance to the King and the country, tribal leader Sultan Feisal Al Jazi said the Southern Badia tribes will not allow those who seek to harm the country to do so.
“We all want a hereditary monarchy and no one is allowed to violate this. We accepted this and grew up with this situation and this is the opinion of the majority,” he said.
“We also want to preserve the security, stability and resources of the country,” he said, noting that the region is witnessing fast-paced developments.
“Those on the other side should believe this, and that we in the Southern Badia never had to renew our allegiance as we never gave up this allegiance,” Jazi added.
Sources: Jordan Times, Jordanian Prime Ministry
The eldest son of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania began taking on official royal engagements this week as he begins to prepare for his future role as King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
 Petra News Agency Crown Prince Hussein represented his father at a military event and also displayed initiative by helping football fans watch the World Cup.
On Thursday, the young man attended the anniversary of Army Day and the Great Arab Revolt at the Martyr’s Monument. He signed the guest book, watered an olive tree, and was given a tour of the site.
On the same day, the Petra News Agency reported that Hussein asked authorities for large flat-screen television sets be distributed throughout Jordan’s 115 youth centers so youngsters could watch the World Cup, going on right now.
Crown Prince Hussein will turn 16 on June 28th. He is currently a student at King’s Academy in Amman, where he is said to be learning Chinese, Spanish and French. He already is fluent in Arabic and English.
Hussein became the heir apparent last year after his father released a decree. Before, it was his uncle, Prince Hamzah, the eldest son of Queen Noor, who was the Crown Prince. Hamzah was removed from that position in 2004.
Source: Petra News Agency, Trading Markets
The body of Captain Ali Sharif Bin Zeid returned to Jordan earlier today, and were received by members of the royal family, including King Abdullah II and Queen Rania. Bin Zeid was a distant member of the royals, though it is not known how he was related to them.
 Salah Malkawi/Getty Images The Captain was killed “on Wednesday evening as a martyr while performing the sacred duty of the Jordanian forces in Afghanistan,” the official news agency Petra said. It is not quite known how exactly he died, though it is speculated Bin Zeid was one of the thirteen killed in a suicide attack at a base in Khost.
He died on the last of his 20 day stay in the war-torn country, and was due to come back to Jordan Saturday.
But instead, Bin Zeid arrived home in a coffin. Jordanian soldiers carried his casket from Queen Alia airport in full view of the King and Queen, plus their son Crown Prince Hussein, and two of the King’s half-brothers, Princes Hamzah and Hashem.
The Captain’s title of “Sharif” is bestowed only to members of the Jordanian royal family.
 Salah Malkawi/Getty Images
On the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, King Abdullah II of Jordan gave a televised speech to the country. In it, he encouraged his people on the Hashemite Kingdom’s progress and even acknowledged the Palestinians.
 Reuters/Youssef Allan “Brothers and sisters, members of the one Jordanian family,” the King said. “Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you. It is my pleasure, on the eve of the Eid Al Adha, an occasion that is special to all Muslims, to send you all and Arab and Muslim nations greetings and good wishes.”
“I also join you in sending special wishes to our brothers and sisters west of the river, who have not experienced the pleasure of Eid for many decades and continue to suffer the injustice of occupation and absence of justice,” King Abdullah continued. “We greet them on this day and emphasize that we stand by their side and will continue to support them in their quest for their legitimate rights, especially their right to freedom and to establish their independent state on their national soil.”
After making those points, the monarch went on to talk about Jordan’s economic, social and political progress. He said he was fully aware of the daily struggles many Jordanian face each day and carried their burden. “Work continues within a clear work plan to improve conditions and achieve the best for you and our country. I will settle for nothing less than the best for you.”
Overall, it was a short speech. After acknowledging the people’s economic struggles, King Abdullah wished the country a happy Eid.
Eid al-Adha is when Muslims commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son as commanded by God. Muslims sacrifice goats, camels, sheep and other animals in remembrance of God giving Abraham an animal in place of his son once he saw Abraham’s obedience.
King Abdullah led Thursday night Eid prayers at the King Hussein mosque with many of his male relatives. His son and heir, Crown Prince Hussein was also in attendance.
On Thursday, King Abdullah II of Jordan decreed his eldest son, Prince Hussein, as Crown Prince – the heir apparent. The role of Crown Prince has been vacant since 2004, when the King asked his half-brother, Prince Hamzah, to step down from the
 - Reuters
15 year-old Hussein bin Abdullah, who’s mother Queen Rania, is of Palestinian descent, will be “vested with all rights and privileges pertaining to this decree” and would “immediately assume the title and privileges of his post,” according to a royal palace statement. The Crown Prince has been the de facto heir apparent since Prince Hamzah’s removal, but without it being official, until now.
Jordan’s constitution says the throne passes from father to son, although there’s always a chance a brother could be named Crown Prince.
King Abdullah himself was chosen to be his father, King Hussein bin Talal’s, heir just days before he died in 1999. The throne was passed over his uncle, Prince Hassan, King Hussein’s brother.
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