The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have touched down in Jordan on their first overseas engagement since the Covid crisis began in March 2020 – and their first appointment was with a glamorous-looking Queen Rania.
The couple, who left the UK on Sunday and spent yesterday enjoying some rest time in the Middle Eastern country, looked relaxed as they disembarked their ministerial plane, Voyager, on the tarmac at Queen Alia International Airport in capital city Amman.
The royals will spend four days in both Jordan and Egypt and are representing the Government during the trip – with climate change thought to be high on the agenda for discussion.
Their first stop after landing in the city to a guard of honour was a meeting with Jordanian royals King Abdullah II and Queen Rania at the Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman.
King Abdullah II’s wife of 27 years, Rania, looked radiant in a cream dress coat, worn with a gold belt and matching Stephen Webster hoop earrings and a Louis Vuitton Twist bag, also in gold.
The 51-year-old Jordanian queen finished the look with a pair of towering Dior pumps with a gold stiletto heel.
Later, Rania was seen at the wheel as she drove the Duchess of Cornwall away from the palace on their first appointment – to discuss the Jordanian queen’s charity work with vulnerable women and children.
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After jetting in to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall made their way to the city’s Al Husseiniya Palace where they were greeted by King Abdullah II, third from right, Queen Rania, second from right, and Crown Prince of Jordan, far right
The Duchess of Cornwall is welcomed by Queen Rania at the palace in Amman this morning; the two royals will discuss Rania’s charity work to protect vulnerable children and mothers
At the wheel! The Jordanian queen chose to drive the Duchess of Cornwall to their first appointment this afternoon
Prince Charles chats to his hosts as they stand in front of the flags that mark the links between the Middle East and the United Kingdom – 2021 sees Jordan celebrate the kingdom’s centenary year
The 51-year-old Jordanian queen dazzled in a pair of Dior pumps with a towering gold stiletto heel
First port of call: The royals, who have established a strong friendship with Queen Rania over years of engagements, smile as they chat with the Jordanian queen
King Abdullah II’s wife of 27 years, Queen Rania, looked radiant in a cream dress coat, worn with a gold belt and matching geometric earrings by Stephen Webster
King Abdullah II holds forth as the British royals are greeted in the grounds of the Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman on Tuesday
Gold is the colour! A sophisticated-looking Queen Rania accessorised her cream ensemble with a gold couture bag by Louis Vuitton, belt and earrings, with tortoiseshell sunglasses
Handshakes are finally allowed! Prince Charles greets King Abdullah II as the Duchess of Cornwall looks on
A little warm! A besuited Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall landed at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, on Tuesday ahead of their first royal trip since the pandemic began
The royals will spend four days in both Jordan and Egypt and are representing the Government during the trip – with climate change amongst the subjects set to be discussed
The Prince celebrated his 73rd birthday on Remembrance Sunday…before jetting out to Amman earlier today
The Crown Prince of Jordan was also in attendance as the royals stood before flags to mark the kingdom’s centenary year.
Camilla, 74, who had reached for a pair of sunglasses to protect her eyes from the Arabian sun at the airport, looked dressed for the warm weather in an elegant blue ditsy floral summer dress.
Meanwhile, Prince Charles, who celebrated his 73rd birthday on Remembrance Sunday, donned a light grey suit, pale lavender shirt and patterned tie for the first official day of their trip.
The couple flew in Voyager, the ministerial jet, and were greeted on the runway by a small diplomatic party led by the UK’s ambassador to the country Bridget Brind.
Among the group was Stephanie Al-Qaq, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s director for Middle East and North Africa, and Defence Attache Brigadier Jamie Piggott.
The couple pictured striding down the red carpet at the airport this morning; their focus during the trip will be encouraging discussion on climate change
The Middle Eastern country laid out the red carpet and a military welcome for the couple
A regal welcome: the couple received a guard of honour as they touched down in the Middle Eastern capital on Tuesday
After a busy weekend marking Remembrance Sunday, as the most senior royal at the Cenotaph in the Queen’s absence, the Prince will spend the rest of this week in the Middle East
The couple flew in Voyager, the ministerial jet, and were greeted on the runway by a small diplomatic party led by the UK’s ambassador to the country Bridget Brind
In the coming days, the Prince is set to discuss the plight of Syrian refugees with humanitarian groups the UNHCR and the International Rescue Committee, while Camilla will spend time with Queen Rania, learning about her charity work to protect vulnerable children and mothers. The Duchess will also take part in a Women of the World event while in the country.
The couple left the UK on Sunday, Charles’ birthday, after attending the national remembrance service at the Cenotaph and have been spending private time in Jordan.
The royal family have largely had their wings clipped as a result of the pandemic and this is the first royal overseas tour for almost two years.
The Prince and Duchess are both double jabbed and will likely have had their boosters by the time the trip takes place. As the Queen no longer travels abroad, any trip by Charles is akin to a state visit and treated with huge significance.
The trip will help the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to use their legendary ‘soft power’, opening doors not normally available to diplomats and politicians.
Double jabbed, the couple are also thought to have now had their boosters ahead of the visit
Prince Charles chats to a dignitary as he steps onto Jordan soil – the couple took the five-hour flight to the country on Sunday, enjoying some private time yesterday
The royal couple stroll down the red carpet following the flight on Voyager, the ministerial plane
Speaking ahead of the tour last month, Chris Fitzgerald, deputy private secretary to the prince, said climate change would be one of the main themes of the visit, and other issues would include inter-faith dialogue, female empowerment and efforts to preserve cultural heritage.
Mr Fitzgerald said: ‘The first royal tour in almost two years will come at a significant moment in the UK’s relationship with both countries
‘Their royal highnesses will first travel to Jordan, where they will celebrate both Jordan’s own centenary and 100 years of the UK-Jordan bilateral relationship.
‘Their royal highnesses’ visit to Egypt comes as the UK holds the Cop presidency and Egypt has been nominated to assume the Cop27 presidency in 2022.
‘In this decisive decade for climate action, the next 12 months is therefore expected to see a significant co-operation between the UK and Egypt. Indeed, both visits will have a major focus on addressing the climate crisis.’
Camilla donned a blue ditsy floral summer dress for the first day of their trip, while Charles wore a light grey suit, pale lavender shirt and patterned tie
Palace bound: Final preparations are made for the arrival of the royals at the Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman
Guards of honour await the arrival of the British royals in the capital of Jordan on Tuesday
After a busy weekend marking Remembrance Sunday, as the most senior royal at the Cenotaph in the Queen’s absence, Charles will spend the rest of this week in the Middle East.
The family have close links with this part of the world, the Duchess of Cambridge spent part of her childhood in Jordan when her father Michael worked as a manager for British Airways in Amman.
And Prince Charles and Camilla have forged a close friendship with Queen Rania and King Abdullah II over many years of meetings.
The Jordanian royals, who got engaged just six months after they first met at a dinner party hosted by a mutual friend, have been married since June 1993.
Rania went to school in Kuwait and studied a business degree in Cairo, Egypt, before marrying into royalty.