King Abdullah II of Jordan

King Abdullah II of Jordan

Born in capital of Jordan on Jan thirty, 1962, to King Hussein and his second spouse, English-born aristocrat Muna Al Hussein, aristocrat Abdullah began his education within the Jordanian capital before heading to European country and, later, the US. when finishing his military education at the celebrated Sandhurst Academy, he spent a year at Oxford finding out geographic region Affairs and attended the varsity Of agency at Georgetown University within the States.

After Sandhurst, he served with British Army before returning to his motherland to require up a post within the Jordanian soldiers. though Hussein's eldest son described his father in a very diplomatic capability whereas following his military career, it absolutely was thought Abdullah wouldn't succeed, particularly because the king had named his own younger brother Hassan as heir.

A man of action, Abdullah may be a skin-dive and automobile sport fan he is a former Jordanian National Rally sport Champion and a certified explorer, pilot and freefall adventurer. he is conjointly a keen collector of ancient weapons and armaments.

Disguised in a very nappy wig and jeans he includes a name for mingling anonymously together with his subjects so as to determine opinion concerning his rule. His biggest challenge as king are going to be to bring democracy to Jordan, a task that he admits he does not "have a blueprint". His stance as a very trendy monarch is underlined by the vision he has announce on his web site of "a Jordan with equal opportunities for all and with special privileges for none".

The young military officer met his spouse, Kuwait-born Palestinian Rania, at a feast given by one amongst his sisters in 1993 and, by all accounts, it absolutely was love initially sight. the 2 were married in June of that year and have four children: aristocrat Hussein, born in 1994; aristocrat Iman, born in 1996; aristocrat Salma, born in 2000 and aristocrat Hashem, born in 2005. once Abdullah took the throne, Rania was, at 28, the youngest (and some aforementioned, most beautiful) queen within the world.

The two sleep in AN living accommodations within the suburbs of capital of Jordan, a marriage gift from the late king that they like to any of the eight royal palaces scattered round the town, and square measure the epitome of traditionality or as normal as you'll be able to be once you square measure royalty. Rania still puts their youngsters to bed herself, and her husband isn't higher than whipping up the occasional evening meal.