Her royal highness Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan celebrated her 55th birthday on August 31. She kicked off the special day with the unveiling of a fabulous new portrait. The photograph shows the Queen radiant beneath a beautiful archway, clad in a fashionable teal long-sleeved textured jersey maxi dress. The early portrait goes beyond her physical beauty, showcasing her commitment to a diverse array of humanitarian causes.
In addition to her role as a mother to four children—Crown Prince Hussein, Princess Iman, Princess Salma, and Prince Hashem—Queen Rania has embraced her responsibilities as a grandmother. This past year, she celebrated the births of two granddaughters, Princess Iman’s daughter and Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa’s daughter, Princess Amina. The Queen’s private family life is what heavily informs her public persona. As she masterfully weaves her royal obligations with her personal commitments,
Queen Rania of Jordan similarly has a longstanding personal commitment to children’s rights and has lobbied personally to keep them safe. She highlighted the grave situation facing many children worldwide, stating, “Today, one in six children on Earth live in areas affected by conflict. Every day, dozens of them are killed or maimed.” Her advocacy is especially impactful when considering the fate of Palestinian children.
“Some people would prefer not to think about the specifics of Palestinian children’s suffering. They’d rather hide behind the maxim that this conflict is too complicated, and just move on. But put politics aside. A child is a child, and all children deserve to be protected. There is nothing complicated about that.” – Queen Rania
Queen Rania’s public appearances, outside of her advocacy work, are usually highlighted by her elegance and style. For her birthday portrait, we used a no-makeup makeup aesthetic. It really brought out that soft nude-pink lip, light brown eyeshadow and a hint of pink on her cheekbone.
Since marrying King Abdullah and becoming Queen in 1999, she has devoted her life to charitable causes. She is a driving force behind the Kingdom’s efforts to become an international hub for humanitarianism, sustainable development, and peace. Her commitment bubbled up in profound ways before large events. She has taken part in the World Summit on Children’s Rights convened by the late Pope Francis, and the ‘Shattered Futures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory – Children’s Perspective’ event arranged by Save the Children.
Her commitment, combined with her knowledge of the issues children face today, has driven The Queen to deeply advocate for her causes. In a rare public display of affection, her and King Abdullah’s powerful connection came alive. This engaging conversation revealed their deep interpersonal connection made evident by their shared commitment to shepherding their people into the 21st century.
