Ahead of her son’s wedding this week queen rania of jordan welcomes rajwa al saif to the family at a lavish celebratory dinner

A head of Jordan’s royal wedding this week, Queen Rania stepped out with her future daughter-in-law and officially welcomed “the sweetest and most beautiful bride-to-be” to the family.

The two women arrived hand in hand as Rania hosted a dinner party to celebrate the forthcoming marriage of her son Crown Prince Al Hussein, 28, to Saudi architect Rajwa Al Saif, 29.

“Today is a special day for us and for our entire Jordanian family,” Rania told guests at the Royal Hashemite Court’s Madareb Bani Hashem. “Our joy is one and the same… near or far, you are all in our hearts today.”

The bride-to-be looked radiant in a white and gold ensemble by Saudi designer Honayda Serafi. Rania chose a pale-blue bespoke gown by Lebanon’s Saiid Kobeisy for the gathering, where guests included members of both families as well as women from across the kingdom.

Rania said that Rajwa was as precious to her as her own daughters and told of her and King Abdullah’s joy when their son announced his engagement.

“I’ll never forget how happy His Majesty and I were when Al Hussein told us he wanted to marry Rajwa,” she said.

“She is the perfect answer to all my prayers for him. May you always be each other’s source of happiness and support.”

Turning to the bride’s mother, Rania said: “We and Al Hussein will take the very best care of Rajwa. This is her country, and she is among her family and people.