A Glittering Silver Jubilee Gift For Queen Rania of Jordan

On Wednesday, the King and Queen of Jordan began the celebrations of their Silver Jubilee year with a special order presentation in Amman.

On March 6, King Abdullah II of Jordan presented his wife, Queen Rania, with the insignia of the Order of the Renaissance, one of Jordan’s important chivalric decorations. The presentation was made in “appreciation of her distinguished service, her leading role in the advancement of Jordanian society, and her keenness to support Jordanians in all fields” over the past 25 years.

The presentation of the order was scheduled to coincide with the celebration of International Women’s Day, in front of an audience filled with Jordanian women from all walks of life. Abdullah wrote a lovely letter to his wife announcing the appointment, stating in part, “Through thick and thin, God has blessed me with an unwavering companion, who has stood by my side in constant devotion to this nation, putting her larger Jordanian family before her own.”

It’s hard to believe it, but it has indeed been a quarter of a century since King Abdullah II ascended to the Jordanian throne. He became monarch on February 7, 1999, on the passing of his father, King Hussein. Abdullah had been officially named as his father’s heir just two weeks before King Hussein’s death from cancer. King Abdullah’s investiture took place a few months later, on June 9, 1999, with Rania beside him wearing an Elie Saab gown and a diamond tiara borrowed from her sister-in-law, Princess Haya.

Now, 25 years later, Abdullah has officially recognized his wife’s enduring support throughout his reign. Rania arrived for the investiture wearing an elegant gown with a woven black and red detail on the bodice.

She also wore a pair of earrings featuring red gemstone drops surrounded by a modern diamond design.

She also wore rings on both hands, plus the sash of her new decoration.

The Order of the Renaissance is the second highest order of chivalry in Jordan. (Rania is already a member of the highest order, the Order of Al-Hussein bin Ali.) Rania received the special first class of the order, which features diamond brilliants on the insignia.