Queen Rania of Jordan tells HELLO! why she is encouraging visitors back to her country and talks about her special ties with England
Queen Rania of Jordan speaks of building bridges. She talks of skyways, landways and seaways criss-crossing the world, connecting people and dreams. "It is increasingly important that we communicate and build bridges between peoples," she told HELLO! magazine. She was speaking in the context of the World Travel Market, one of the biggest events in the travel industry's calendar, but she was also talking about her philosophy of life.
When her husband, King Abdullah II, succeeded his father - the much loved King Hussein - over three years ago, expectations were high not only of the new king but of his wife Rania, who at 28 became the world's youngest queen.
Born in Kuwait of Palestinian origin, Queen Rania has lived in Jordan since 1991, when her family fled the Gulf War. She graduated in business administration from the American University in Cairo and worked for Citibank and Apple Computer in Amman. She had no idea that she would be queen one day when she met Abdullah at a party in the city in January 1993. The couple married the following June, but it was only two weeks before his death in 1999 that King Hussein named his eldest son his successor. The next king was supposed to be Crown Prince Hassan, youngest brother of Hussein.
With her understanding of ordinary people and her Palestinian roots, it was hoped that Rania would use her position to help raise living standards for the Palestinians living in Jordan, who make up a large percentage of the population. She was undoubtedly seen as a unifying influence, a woman with one foot in the West whilst still embracing Arab tradition, whose youth and style would find resonance with the predominantly young populace.
She has done much to meet those expectations in her extensive development work, most notably the Jordan River Foundation, which she set up in 1995. Under its auspices, she has broached the taboo subject of child abuse. Her Child Abuse Prevention Project is the first of its kind in the Arab world. She has also campaigned against "honour killings" by male relatives of women who lose their virginity before marriage or commit adultery. And in so doing she has, alongside her husband, identified herself as part of a generation of Arab leadership who see themselves as modernisers who respect tradition. "I am an Arab through and through but I am also one who speaks the international language," she says.
On the global stage, she has helped draw attention to Jordan with her beauty, style, intelligence and compassion. Comparisons to the late Princess Diana have been drawn with regularity. But unlike Diana, Queen Rania is happily married, saying of her husband: "We have a partnership in every way."
She is also a mother to three children, Prince Hussein, eight, Princess Iman, six, and princess Salma, two, who she and her husband try to bring up as normally as possible. "It is very important for us that they are able to relate to and understand the daily realities of everyday Jordanians. Both his Majesty and I have been raised this way and it is imperative to us that our children are also grounded in reality."
She is not, however, without her critics. Some traditionalists have belittled her strong links with the West and have nicknamed her the "handbag queen" because of her keen interest in designer labels. Hardline Palestinians, meanwhile say she hasn't done enough to champion their cause or that of their compatriots in the neighbouring West Bank.
Yet Queen Rania - and more specifically the Jordanian monarchy itself - tread a difficult path. On the one hand they must respect their peace treaty commitments to the Israelis, while on the other hand they must fulfil their responsibilities to the majority of Palestinians living in Jordan, many of whom have relatives living in the West Bank.
These are difficult times for Jordan. With the threat of war against Iraq shadowing international affairs, and the conflict mounting in neighbouring Israel, Jordan remains a casualty of instability in the region, economically and otherwise.
Like the whole of the Middle East, it has been affected by the events in the region. And with the few natural resources and high unemployment, it relies on tourism as one of its leading industries. It was with this in mind that Queen Rania visited London and the World Travel Market: to highlight the wonders of her country and to attempt to repair the damage it has suffered as a result of unrest in the Middle East and by the threat of terrorism unleashed by the events of September 11.
"I think that both the threat of terrorism and the conflict in the Middle East have had an impact on most tourist destinations," she told HELLO!. "The incident in Bali, for example, was a reminder that no part of the world is immune to these threats. That has made travellers pause. But clearly we have to get on with our lives and not allow terrorists to make us live in fear. Jordan, for one, is a country that has a track record of being very safe. I've never heard anyone complain that they felt threatened in any way. On the contrary. One misconception in people's minds is that they tend to view the Middle East as a homogeneous whole. When something happens in Palestine or Israel for example, it does not make Jordan any less safe. I would not cancel a trip to France if something happened in Germany for example. I believe that Jordan is safer than many cities in Europe."
An avid traveller herself, the queen and her husband are particularly fond of England, not least because it is the homeland of King Abdullah's mother Princess Muna, who was King Hussein's second wife. The royal family have houses in London and Berkshire and the queen is a frequent visitor to the fashionable boutiques of the capital's Sloane Square.
"England is very special. It's almost like a second home to us," comments Queen Rania. "You always want to go back to a place that you know so well and where you have many friends. It's just so comfortable. Although some argue in favour of changing your destinations and exploring new places every now and then, for us familiarity has its attributes." It is back home in Jordan, however, that the couple are really able to relax and specifically in Aqaba, on the Red Sea. "Aqaba is a city that is very special to me. It is our refuge, a place where we can really be a family. We are away from the day-to-day demands, without leaving the country," she confides.
She adds, "My husband and I often go camping in Wadi Rum: it's a wonderful experience to sit around the fire and stare at the beautifully lit sky. Just a couple of months ago we spent an afternoon in Petra, which no matter how many times you visit, always manages to take your breath away.
"Although I wasn't born there, Jordan has always felt like a home to me. My family used to come to Jordan on holiday every year and they planned to retire there."
Despite their status, the royal couple have done their utmost to ensure that they still have some level of anonymity. They have chosen to live in a house in the suburbs of Amman rather than one of the city's many palaces and still manage to enjoy their country's delights without being unduly bothered in the process. "I can do that fairly easily," Queen Rania confirms. "That is what I normally do in my work: I visit various places around Jordan to meet with people, visit projects and follow up on issues. It is not are for Jordanians to bump into members of the royal family. This is the way things have been for a long time and it was always King Hussein's style.
" King Abdullah has been as active as Rania in promoting the attributes of his country in these times of trouble, and was recently invited to host a television special about Jordan for the Discovery channel, in which he guided the filmmakers around the country to his kingdom's major landmarks. "He was so enthusiastic: it wasn't enough to get in our SUV and drive the filmmakers around the country," she smiles. "He got out his rock-climbing equipment, his motorcycle, his scuba gear, and helicopter - and even a camel. He ran the filmmakers ragged and they still couldn't cover everything."
Queen Rania was in London to implore people to come back to Jordan for the good of her country and its tourist industry. But she clearly sees travel as much more than leisure activity. "We have an almost instinctive need to interact and explore our world," she observes.
"In the 21st century people really do have a global spirit. We feel connected worldwide and at the same time we celebrate our differences.
"There isn't a fellowship organisation in the world that can duplicate the kind of ties that travel creates. No professor can spread global understanding like the millions of travellers who have interacted with the world and brought their stories home. And no paper treaty can create goodwill like travellers who see for themselves that people all over the world are basically the same. Today more than ever we must strive to keep the lines of communication and bridges open."
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