Jordanian royal wedding: Programme of events and what to expect

From the Islamic ceremony to the motorcade procession and reception, here is the order of celebration

Crown Prince Hussein at a celebration in Amman the day before his wedding. Photo: Royal Hashemite Court

Celebrations have begun across Jordan for the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif, ahead of the ceremony at Zahran Palace on Thursday.

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The intimate Islamic ceremony will be followed by a motorcade procession from Zahran Palace to Al Husseiniya Palace, where the reception will take place. More than 1,700 guests from around the world are set to attend, including the UK's Prince William and his wife Kate who have already arrived.

The reception will feature a variety of performances by local and regional singers, a choir group, Jordanian bands, the national orchestra and folk dance troupes. It will conclude with the bride and groom cutting the wedding cake at 11pm UAE time.

Here is a summary of the wedding programme.

Islamic marriage ceremony at Zahran Palace

Prince Hussein and Al Saif will be married at Zahran Palace in an Islamic marriage ceremony known as a katb ktab. It will be attended by about 140 guests, including members of Jordan's ruling Hashemite family, invited royals and heads of state.

The event will begin at 5pm UAE time, with the arrival of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania who receive and greet guests, while the Jordanian Armed Forces Musical Band performs. This will be followed by the arrival of Prince Hussein, who will join his parents and guests at a gazebo in the palace’s garden, where the ceremony will take place.

Al Saif will arrive next escorted by the prince’s younger brother, Prince Hashem, and younger sister, Princess Salma. Prince Hashem will walk Al Saif to the gazebo.

During the ceremony, the bride and groom will sign the marriage contract, as well as two witnesses. Royal Hashemite Court imam Dr Ahmed Al Khalaileh, who was appointed to this position in January 2021, will preside over the ceremony.

Once the ceremony concludes, several women will perform zaghrata or ululation, a joyous sound commonly used to express happiness at Jordanian and Arab celebrations, and the newlyweds will then greet the attending guests.

Zahran Palace has served as the venue for a number of royal weddings, including the marriage of King Abdullah and Queen Rania.

The motorcade procession

Following the ceremony, the newlyweds will travel from Zahran Palace to Al Husseiniya Palace as part of the Red Motorcade.

The Red Motorcade has its roots in the era of King Abdullah I, the country’s founder, who arrived at significant national events on top of one of a procession of white horses, accompanied by riders dressed in dark blue trousers and red blazers. Today, the Red Motorcade is used on occasions of national importance, including the opening of parliament, Army Day, Independence Day and during official visits by heads of state.

On these occasions, motorcade members and riders don full Jordanian military regalia and the national red-and-white checkered headdress, known in Arabic as the shemagh. The Motorcade consists of eight bright red, armed Land Rover vehicles and 11 motorcycles, but on special occasions, horse and camel riders join the line-up and the Jordan Armed Forces Musical Band plays military music on bagpipes.

Wedding reception at Al Husseiniya Palace

The Red Motorcade will then arrive at Al Husseiniya Palace. As is customary, the arrival of the bride and groom is announced with a zaffeh, a lively musical procession featuring drums, bagpipes, singing and clapping.

The newlyweds will then be led to the outdoor reception courtyard by a military zaffeh performed by the Jordan Armed Forces Musical Band, renowned for its rousing performances. All band members also wear the shemagh in addition to their full-dress uniform.

After passing through an honorary Arch of Sabers, the couple will proceed toward the greeting stage. There, they will be joined by King Abdullah and Queen Rania, as well as the bride's parents, to greet more than 1,700 guests.

The remainder of the evening will feature a variety of performances with the reception concluding with the cutting of the wedding cake.

Guests who have arrived for the reception include Kuwait's Crown Prince Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Prince William and the Princess of Wales, Malaysia's king and US first lady Jill Biden.