Princess Rajwa, wife of Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein, gave birth on Saturday to a baby girl, the couple’s first child and King Abdullah II’s first grandchild, the country’s royal court said.
In a brief statement, the Hashemite royal court said the baby was named Iman.
In a video posted on Rajwa’s official Instagram page on Saturday, Hussein cradled his newborn daughter to the soundtrack of You Are My Sunshine.
The sweet photos also show the new parents cuddling their newborn, and Iman meeting her grandparents and aunt for the first time at the King Hussein Medical Center hospital in Amman, Jordan.
Princess Iman’s birth came about a year after Hussein and Rajwa’s extravagant wedding, which attracted a star-studded guest list including the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Rajwa, 30, was born in Riyadh to a prominent and wealthy Saudi family distantly related to the country’s current ruler, King Salman.
Princess Rajwa, wife of Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein, gave birth on Saturday to a baby girl, the couple’s first child named IMan.
Queen Rania is pictured holding her first grandchild, Princess Iman
Hussein, also 30, was named crown prince in 2004, at the age of 15, after Abdullah stripped the title from his own half-brother, Prince Hamzah.
The prince is the eldest son of Abdullah II, 62, who has ruled Jordan as a reliable Western ally and voice of moderation during more than two decades of turmoil in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Syria and Iraq, all of which border the tiny, resource-poor kingdom.
Under Jordanian law, only men can inherit the Hashemite throne.
“The Hashemite Royal Court extends its sincere congratulations and best wishes to Their Royal Highnesses and Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al Abdullah on this joyous occasion,” the statement read.
Princess Salma Bint Abdullah (daughter of King Abdullah and Queen Rania) holds her first niece, Princess Iman (Bint Al Hussein), daughter of her brother Crown Prince Hussein (or Al Hussain), and Princess Rajwa.
King Abdullah II holds his newborn granddaughter, Iman, alongside his wife, Queen Rania, in Amman
In June, the 53-year-old Queen of Jordan shared a gushing post with her 10 million followers to celebrate her son’s 30th birthday, showing Hussein and Rajwa beaming in formal attire.
Rajwa, 30, glowed in an off-white dress with a fitted silhouette that showed off her blossoming baby bump, adding lavish accessories to the outfit, including a diamond bracelet.
The couple, who tied the knot in a prestigious ceremony last year at Zahran Palace, appeared in high spirits as they posed in nature, looking away from the camera.
Rajwa, 30, glowed in an off-white dress with a fitted silhouette that showed off her blossoming baby bump, adding lavish accessories to the outfit, including a diamond bracelet.
Queen Rania holds her newborn granddaughter, Iman, in Amman
The joyous announcement comes after the tragic loss of her father in February, just months after she married into the Jordanian royal family.
Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif died at the age of 71.
In an emotional post on Instagram, Prince Hussein shared a photo of himself hugging Khaled, who became his “beloved” father-in-law after marrying Princess Rajwa last June.
“It is with deep sadness and grief that we bid farewell to my beloved father-in-law. We will always remember his kindness, generosity and integrity. May God grant him mercy and grant us patience and strength,” she wrote.
Hussei and renowned architect Rajwa married in June last year at the Zahran Palace in Amman.
Following a brief ceremony, Abdullah II and Rania hosted a lavish reception at Al Husseiniya Palace, attended by more than 1,700 guests, including the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Rajwa dazzled in a white gown by Lebanese designer Elie Saab, which featured a long, flower-embroidered train and a sparkling diamond tiara.
Abdullah II and Rania proudly watched as their son tied the knot during an Islamic ceremony known as ‘katb ktab’, held in a gazebo and led by the Imam of the Hashemite Royal Court, Dr Ahmed Al Khalaileh.
Kate Middleton, who briefly lived in Jordan as a child, led the glamorous guests to the event in a blush pink lace gown also by Elie Saab.