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The King and Queen of Jordan went to Qatar Tuesday for a one day working visit, which is like a state visit minus all the pageantry. King Abdullah II and Queen Rania were welcomed in Doha by Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al thani and Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al Missned.
The point of the King’s visit was to discuss with the Emir about forging closer ties between Jordan and Qatar, as well as talk about the latest developments in the Middle East.
Joining the heads of state during this meeting was the King’s half brother, Prince Ali, and Qatar’s Crown Prince Tamim.
In the afternoon, the Emir and Sheikha Mozah hosted a lunch banquet for Abdullah and Rania.
Source: Petra News Agency
As part of their whirlwind visit to the Mideast, Spain’s Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia stopped by Jordan on Wednesday. They were welcomed by King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, whom held a lunch banquet in their honor. The meal consisted of Mansaf – a traditional Jordanian dish made of lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt and served with rice – and hummus.
Afterward, Prince Felipe took time to meet with the King to discuss stronger bilateral ties between Jordan and Spain. He had a similar meeting with Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit, whom praised Spain’s support of the kingdom’s education, training and energy fields.
Bakhit also briefed the Prince on the political changes Jordan is going through. Jordan, like so many other Arab nations, is looking to reform after months of protests by its people.
As always, the subject of the Mideast Peace Process and establishing a Palestinian state was talked about.
Later on Wednesday, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia did some touring of Amman, with Prince Mohammed bin Talal and Princess Gheida accompanying them. They went to the Martyr’s Memorial, where they were received by Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Major General Zeyad Majali.
The Spanish royals also went to the University of Jordan and opened the Spanish pavilion in one of its buildings.
Sources: Zawya, Hello! Magazine
The Queen of Jordan went to the southern governate of Tafileh Monday to check in three school that are part of the her Madrasati initiative. Queen Rania launched Madrasati, or “My School”, in 2010 as a way to improve education and school buildings in Jordan. A total of 96 schools in Jordan’s southern region are part of the initiative.
 Petra News Agency The first school she stopped by was Al Qadisieh Secondary School for Girls. There, Rania – along with Madrasati Director Dana Dajani – toured its computer lab. The lab was created under Madrasati and the Jordan Education Initiative (JEI).
Later on, the Queen sat in on a Madrasati sponsored workshop called, “The Art of Storytelling Through Photography”. She even took a look at the school’s art gallery and visited some classrooms.
Next, Her Majesty went to Fatima Al Zahraa Elementary School for Girls, where she toured its sports hall, which was renovated by Madrasati. Rania was told that even though the school had very little sporting equipment, its students managed to compete for the King Abdullah Physical Fitness Award and win gold and silver medals.
Queen Rania also met with math teachers who told her about the skills they’ve developed under the Queen Rania Teacher Academy (QRTA). She also chatted with the students about their hopes for their school. The girls told her about volunteers from Denmark whom helped them create a wall mural on one of the outside school walls.
For her final stop, the Queen went to Farwa Elementary Coed School, where she inspected the structural and renovation work that took place, and watched a sports activity conducted by a Madrasati community organizer.
Source: Jordan Times
As the world reacted with shock and sadness at the 8.9 earthquake that struck Japan Friday, world leaders were quick to express their condolences to Emperor Akihito, the head of state.
 AP Photo/Keichi Nakane, The Yomiuri Shimbun
“I was saddened to hear of the tragic loss of life caused by the earthquake which has struck north east Japan today,” Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II told the emperor.
“Prince Philip joins me in extending our heartfelt sympathy to your Majesty and the people of Japan. Our prayers and thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by the dreadful disaster.”
On Twitter, the two Queens of Jordan expressed their sadness over the disaster.
“My heart goes out to all affected by quake &tsunami in Japan including my beloved child who works there. God bless. &protect all,” tweeted Queen Noor, who was referring to youngest daughter, Princess Raiyah.
Noor’s stepdaughter-in-law, Queen Rania, wrote on the social networking site: “Awestruck by devastating power of nature in Japan. Thoughts & prayers are with those who lost loved ones, & those who wait in uncertainty.”
“A truly humbling reminder of our vulnerability, as humans in the end, we only have each other and our faith.”
On a personal note, I would like to express my condolences to the Japanese readers of Royalty in the News. The world is on your side, and my prayers are with you. – Megan
Sources: Telegraph, Twitter
The Queen of Jordan emerged Wednesday after keeping a rather low profile for the past two weeks. She went to two Amman schools to see how they are benefiting from Madrasati, Rania’s organization aimed at improving education and school buildings.
 Petra News Agency The first school the Queen visited was Abu Nseir Elementary Co-ed School, where six teachers told her about the programs and benefits the institution has received since becoming part of Madrasati. Those programs include a math network, sports for development, and extra curricula activities. Some of the students are even participating in the King Abdullah Award for Physical Fitness.
Later, Queen Rania sat in a kindergarten class and got to know the students. The teachers in that class told her about the early childhood development programs.
The next school for Her Majesty was the Safout Secondary School for Girls, where she again was told how the institute has been doing under the Madrasati initiative.
Source: Jordan Direction
 Ben Gabbe/Getty Images/FILE The Queen of Jordan posted her first comment on Twitter today for the first time in about two weeks.
Queen Rania simply said, “Egypt, where I spent my university years. May you be blessed with security & prosperity for all in this new era.”
It is interesting to see the Queen finally say something related to the anti-government movements sweeping across North Africa and the Middle East.
Even Jordan has been hit, with some even criticizing Rania for extravagance and corruption- though the Jordanian royal court says such allegations are false.
The Queen did spend her university years in Egypt. She studied business administration at the American University in Cairo.
Source: Twitter
The royal court of Jordan is denouncing an AFP report that Bedouin tribal leaders criticized Queen Rania this week.
 KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP/Getty Images/FILE In a palace statement released Friday, it condemned “in the strongest possible terms, the completely erroneous and defamatory statements about Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan” contained in the February 9 report.
The report, it added, “contains serious allegations against Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and the Yassin family [Rania's birth family] in which there is no truth whatsoever.”
Earlier this week, it was widely reported that the leaders of Jordan’s tribes slammed the Queen, accusing her of corruption and meddling in politics.
It came at a time of major political changes sweeping across the Middle East, in which anti-government protests took place in countries including Jordan. The Bedouin tribes are seen as the bedrock of the monarchy and for them to criticize King Abdullah II’s wife came close to criticizing the King himself.
But the royal court insists that statement from the tribal leaders never took place.
It said the 36 people who signed the statement “are not leaders of the tribes to which they belong, and they do not represent the tens of thousands of people from these proud Jordanian tribes.”
The palace statement added: “Amongst several other false allegations, the report claims that land and farms belonging to the Jordanian people were given to the Yassin family.”
According to Al-Quds, King Abdullah is threatening to sue the AFP for its report.
Source: AFP, Al-Quds
In an unprecedented move Sunday, 36 leaders of Jordan’s tribes released a statement criticizing Queen Rania and demanding political reform so the country won’t suffer the unrest seen in Egypt and Tunisia.
 YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Images/FILE The Bedouin tribes make up nearly 40 percent of Jordan’s population and are seen as the bedrock of the monarchy.
In the statement, the tribal leaders criticized Rania’s “interference in executive decisions by those who have no constitutional powers,” and added that the “sycophants and the power centers that surround her” are dividing Jordanians and “stealing from the country and the people,” the letter states.
“The Queen is building centres to boost her power and serve her interests, against the will of Jordanians and Hashemites,” the leaders said, comparing her to Leila Ben Ali, wide of ousted Tunisian president.
“We refuse the squandering of public money and aid to polish her own personal image at the expense of the nation,” the figures said, referring to the Queen’s lavishness.
The tribal figures went on to say that if corruption was not prosecuted and reform was did not take place, “similar events to those in Tunisia and Egypt and other Arab countries will occur.”
Finally, the leaders called for a “trial of the corrupt who have looted the country and public funds, regardless of who they are and irrespective of their rank and importance” – which is a further attack on Queen Rania.
Criticism of the royal family is illegal in Jordan, especially that of the King, so these tribal leaders attacking the Queen is a major development in the anti-government movement hitting Jordan.
The statement was originally posted on the popular Jordanian news website, Ammon News, which claimed to have been hacked and then removed the statement.
The royal family has yet to respond the criticism by the Bedouin leaders.
Source: CNN, AFP
The Queen of Jordan finished up a two day visit to the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom of Bahrain on Monday. She was there to promote her Madrasati Palestine initiative, and also on behalf of the non-profit organization inJAz, which Queen Rania is patron of. 
During Monday, Rania was at a special students’ assignment organized by inJAz Bahrain as part of the “Banks in Action” program at the Citibank headquarters in Bahrain. She was joined by Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, who is the inJAz Bahrain Executive Director.
About the “Banks in Action”event, Queen Rania said this: The ‘Banks in Action’ competition shows INJAZ at its best. Teaching our children the value of money, the spirit of business, and the rewards of hard work improves not only their future prospects as job seekers but our future prosperity as a region. I want to thank INJAZ and the Kingdom of Bahrain for their inspiring example, and all the competitors for their impressive skills.”
Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa expressed her satisfaction with the event, stating “We are very delighted and grateful for Her Majesty Queen Rania’s attendance, a gesture which exemplifies her personal involvement and caring passion for the development of youth across the Arab world. We also thank Citibank for providing this unique, innovative learning experience and for the ongoing support of its employees who volunteer their time to mentor young Bahrainis students and provide them with valuable work-readiness and financial literacy education.”
Teams from three boys’ and three girls’ schools took part in the competition. The students take roles of being managers to learn how to work through a successful bank simulation program.
Queen Rania congratulated the winning team and wished the others all the best.
 INJAZ was started as a project by Save the Children with funds from USAID. In 2001, it spun off to become an independent not-for-profit organization. INJAZ is an International Member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, the leading global youth organization.
Monday evening saw the Queen take part in a dinner to raise money for Madrasati, which is Arabic for “my school”. It is meant to improve schools and education in the Palestinian Territories.
Sitting with Bahraini Crown Prince Salman, Rania saw a few auctions take place in order to raise funds for the initiative, as well as a Bahrain charity, Alia School for Early Intervention.
Tomorrow, Queen Rania will go to Kuwait for a one day visit.
Sources: Bahrain News Agency, Ammon News, INJAZ
On Thursday, Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan marked the 15th anniversary of one of their country’s most important charities, the Jordan River Foundation. The charity was set up by Rania in 1995.
 Petra During the gala dinner, where 800 people attended, the Queen spoke about her delight over the JRF’s milestone.
“Tonight, we celebrate the million lives lifted by the Jordan River Foundation over the last 15 years; the million lives touched, embraced, and given an opportunity by JRF, because we believe opportunity is the key to positive and lasting change,” she said before thanking each person who helped the foundation achieve its goals.
JRF Director Valentina Qussisiya also addressed the attendees, saying that the JRF’s development projects have distinguished the foundation as a leading organization both nationally and regionally.
“Reaching out to 1 million beneficiaries is only the start, as there are greater goals yet to be achieved,” she said.
The JRF deals with such issues as child safety and abuse, counseling, and youth projects. About 49,000 children have benefitted from this non-profit organization.
Source: Petra, The Royal Forums
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