Jordan's royal celebration: First photos of pregnant Princess Rajwa released

Jordan's royal family released over the weekend the first photographs of Princess Rajwa since she and Crown Prince Hussein announced last month they were expecting their first child.

Rajwa Al-Saif, who married the Jordanian heir to the throne and son of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania in a glitzy ceremony last summer, can be seen in the official portraits cradling her pregnancy bump.

The images were released on the occasion of the couple's first wedding anniversary, according to local media reports.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jordan's Royal Family (@jordansroyalfamily)

Over the past year, the royal couple have been active in various charitable activities, focusing on youth empowerment, education, and cultural initiatives, according to media reports.

Jordan's royal family has been emulating the British royal family, generating mass anticipation around Prince Hussein's wedding to his Saudi bride last year, when Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton made an appearance.

They recently released photos of the princess marking her 30th birthday, mirroring the way portraits of the Princess of Wales and her children were shared with the public.

The British royal family is close to the Jordanian rulers, who have attended several major state ceremonies in the UK in recent years. 

Prince Hussein, who currently serves as a captain in the Jordanian Armed Forces, holds a degree in International History from Georgetown. His wife Rajwa, was an architect who had also lived and worked in the US - and is a second cousin to the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

On 10 April, the Royal Hashemite Court announced that the couple were expecting their first child.

"We are pleased to share that their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein are expecting their first baby this summer," the announcement said.