Princess Rajwa Al Hussein (Arabic: رجوة الحسين; born Rajwa Al Saif; 28 April 1994) is a Saudi member of the Jordanian royal family. She is married to Hussein, Crown Prince of Jordan, heir apparent to the Jordanian throne.
| Princess Rajwa Al Hussein | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Rajwa in 2024 | |
| Born | Rajwa bint Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif 28 April 1994 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | Princess Iman bint Hussein |
| Father | Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif |
| Mother | Azza bint Nayef bin Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Sudairi |
| Education | |
The couple's engagement was announced in August 2022 and they married in a ceremony in Amman on 1 June 2023. Born in Saudi Arabia, Princess Rajwa was previously trained as an architect. Since her marriage, she has joined the Crown Prince in his official engagements in Jordan and abroad. On 3 August 2024, Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa welcomed their first child, Princess Iman.
Early life and career
editRajwa bint Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif was born on 28 April 1994 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She is the youngest of four children born to Saudi businessman Khaled Al Saif, president of the Al Saif Group, and his wife Azza Al Sudairi. She has three older siblings: Faisal, Nayef and Dana.[1] The Al Saif family descends from the sheikhs of the town of Al-Attar in Sudair,[2][3] of the Subai tribe.
Her mother belongs to the Al Sudairi family, the same family as the current King of Saudi Arabia's mother, Hussa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi, as well as that of his late spouse, Sultana bint Turki Al Sudairi.[2] Through her mother she is therefore a first cousin twice removed of King Salman, the current King of Saudi Arabia, and a second cousin once removed of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Her father Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif graduated from the American University of Beirut with a degree in civil engineering and founded Al Seif Engineering Contracting. He died in February 2024.[1][4]
Al Saif completed her secondary education in Riyadh.[5] She then proceeded to complete her Bachelor of Architecture degree at the Syracuse University's School of Architecture in 2017.[5][6][7][8] She went by Rajwa Alseif during her time in university.[5][9] During her studies in Syracuse, Al Saif organized a symposium on start-ups in the desert.[10] She also earned an Associate of Arts degree in visual communications from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in 2019.[5][11] She worked at an architecture firm Patterns Design in Los Angeles before moving back to Riyadh to work at the Designlab Experience design studio.[8][5][12]
In addition to her native Arabic, Al Saif speaks fluent English and French.[13]
Marriage and family
edit
The Royal Hashemite Court announced Al Saif's engagement to Hussein, Crown Prince of Jordan, eldest son of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan on 17 August 2022.[14] The engagement ceremony took place at the home of Al Saif's father in Riyadh.[15][7][8] The ceremony was attended by the King and Queen of Jordan, members of the Jordanian royal family, and members of the Al Saif family.[16] On 22 May 2023, Rajwa's pre-royal wedding henna party was held at the Madareb Bani Hashem.[17] She wore a dress designed by Saudi fashion brand Honayda.[17]
The couple were married on 1 June 2023 at Zahran Palace.[18] Rajwa wore a custom Elie Saab gown for the ceremony and a Dolce & Gabbana gown for the evening reception.[19] By royal decree, Rajwa became known as Her Royal Highness Princess Rajwa Al Hussein upon her marriage.[20]
On 3 August 2024, Rajwa gave birth to a daughter, Princess Iman bint Hussein, at King Hussein Medical Center in Amman.[21] Since the Jordanian throne passes according to agnatic primogeniture, Princess Iman is not in the line of succession.[22]
Public life
editRajwa made her first official public appearance as Crown Prince Hussein's fiancée in October 2022 when she visited the Royal Covenant with Hussein and his great-uncle Prince Hassan bin Talal.[23] She accompanied Hussein during a visit to the Scent of Colour initiative for the blind and visually impaired in January 2023, which marked their first official public engagement as a couple.[24] In September that year, the couple met with US congress members in Washington DC, which marked their first public engagement since their wedding.[25]
In January 2024 Rajwa accompanied Crown Prince Hussein on his official visit to Singapore.[26] In June, she attended King Abdullah II's Silver Jubilee national celebration event in Amman.[27]
References
edit- ^ a b Petit, Stephanie (19 February 2024). "Princess Rajwa of Jordan's Father Dies Just 8 Months After Her Royal Wedding to Crown Prince Hussein". People. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Rajwa Al Saif : la future reine de Jordanie se dévoile". Point de Vue (in French). Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "Who is Rajwa Al Saif, the fiancée of the Crown Prince?". en.royanews.tv. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "Royal Hashemite Court mourns passing of Princess Rajwa's father". Royal Hashemite Court. 18 February 2024. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Who Is Rajwa Al Saif? Meet Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan's Wife". Town & Country. 1 June 2023. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ "Syracuse Architecture — Program". Syracuse University School of Architecture. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ a b Gillett, Katy (18 August 2022). "Who is Rajwa Al Saif, the Saudi fiancee of Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein?". The National. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ a b c "Prince Hussein of Jordan and New Fiancée Give Kate and Prince William Vibes in Engagement Photo". People. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ Wackerow, Elaine (14 April 2016). "Architecture Students Explore Sustainable Design in Heart of Dubai". Syracuse University News. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Get Lectured: Syracuse University, Spring '16". Archinect News. 12 February 2016. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "FIDM Grad To Marry Crown Prince Of Jordan". Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. 12 February 2016. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Rajwa Alseif: 6 Facts You Didn't Know About Jordan Crown Prince Hussein's Fiancée". Harper's Bazaar Arabia. 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Jordan prepares for a royal wedding of its crown prince and an L.A.-educated architect". Los Angeles Times. 31 May 2023. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Crown Prince engaged to Rajwa Al Saif". rhc.jo. 17 August 2022. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ @RHCJO (17 August 2022). "The Royal Hashemite Court is pleased to announce the engagement of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II to Ms Rajwa Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif, and extends its sincere congratulations on this occasion" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Shaji, Shereen (18 August 2022). "Everything to Know About Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein's Saudi Fiancée, Rajwa Al-Saif". Vogue Arabia. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ a b Bridger-Linning, Stephanie (23 May 2023). "Queen Rania of Jordan shares behind-the-scenes video of Rajwa Al Saif's pre-royal wedding henna party". Tatler. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Royal Hashemite Court announces date of Crown Prince's wedding". Royal Hashemite Court. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ Chablani, Nitya (1 June 2023). "Rajwa Al-Saif Wore a Dreamy Elie Saab Bridal Gown for Her Royal Wedding To Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan". Vogue Arabia. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ "Statement from the Royal Hashemite Court". The Royal Hashemite Court. 1 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "Princess Rajwa, Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan welcome their first child". Arab News. 3 August 2024. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Nace la primera nieta de Abdalá y Rania de Jordania: la razón por la que nunca llegará a reinar" (in Spanish). La Razón/Gente. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Hennie, Janine (19 October 2022). "Prince Hussein of Jordan's New Fiancée Rajwa Al-Saif Wears Necklace Sweetly Linking Their Initials". People. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ "Crown Prince, Ms Rajwa Al Saif visit 'Scent of Colour' initiative". The Jordan Times. 23 January 2023. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ "Princess Rajwa attends congress meetings with Jordan's Crown Prince". Arab News. 24 September 2023. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Chablani, Nitya (10 January 2024). "Jordan's Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein and Prince Hussein's first official overseas visit will be to Singapore". Vogue Arabia. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Bickerstaff, Isaac (11 June 2024). "Princess Rajwa of Jordan is radiant as she celebrates King Abdullah's Silver Jubilee alongside Queen Rania and Crown Prince Hussein in her first public appearance since announcing her pregnancy". Tatler. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
