Family members pay tribute to King Hussein of Jordan on the 20th anniversary of his death

He died 20 years ago, on February 7, 1999

King Hussein, centre, and Queen Noor sit among their 12 children in this picture provided by the Royal Palace in 1995. AP Photo

King Hussein and his first wife Queen Mona look at their eldest son Abdallah in Amman. AFP

King Hussein during the troop review in Amman in May 1983. Getty Images

Sheikh Zayed with Jordan's King Hussein in Abu Dhabi in the 1990s. Wam / AFP

From left: Deputy Prime Minister Samir Rifai, King of Jordan Hussein Ibn Talal, King of Saudi Arabia Saud Ibn Abdul Aziz, and Prime Minister Ibrahim Hashim. Getty Images

From left: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai; the Sultan of Brunei; former French president Jacques Chirac; former United States presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, with the King of Morocco, who was crown prince at the time, behind Clinton; former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak; and former Yemen president Ali Abdullah Saleh, far right. Getty Images

Yasser Arafat, centre, kisses the head of King Hussein as Yasser Abed Rabbo, the chief of the PLO information department looks on, during Arafat's arrival at Marka airport in September 1993 in Amman. AFP

King Hussein prays with three of his sons while performing the umra in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. AFP

Queen Noor of Jordan, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II and King Hussein following the British Royals' arrival at Amman Military Airport, for a state visit to Jordan, in March 1984. Getty Images

King Hussein celebrates the second birthday of his twin daughters, Princess Zein (left) and Princess Aisha, on April 23, 1970. Getty Images

King Hussein and his bride, the former American Lisa Halaby, in Amman. AFP

King Hussein welcomes Pope Paul VI, right, on the tarmac of Amman's airport on January 6, 1964. AFP

King Hussein greet his subjects. Getty Images

King Hussein of Jordan when he was crowned in 1952 in Amman. AFP

A young King Hussein in a sports car. AFP

King Hussein riding a horse with his father Talal ibn Hussein in 1939. AFP

King Hussein of Jordan, who was the world's longest-serving executive head of state, died on February 7, 1999. Today is the 20th anniversary of his death and to mark the occasion family members offered touching tributes on social media.

Take a look through the above photo gallery, our own tribute to King Hussein.

This includes his daughter, Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, the wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

In the caption, she writes a letter to her father: "Dad, my dearest, twenty years elapsed and not once did we take our minds off you. How can we when you are rightfully the king who captured hearts?

"In my heart you live, and in the hearts of my brothers, sisters, your people and your Jordanian pride. I promise you that I will move forward the way you raised and taught me. I will carry on following your footsteps with your venerable grandchildren and Zayed. I love you father."

She also shares the beautiful poem, When Great Trees Fall, written by American poet Maya Angelou.

Queen Noor, the dowager Queen of Jordan, said there was no greater way to celebrate her late husband than to uphold his legacy of faith and integrity with the same humility he showed during his reign.

Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, Jordan's heir apparent and King Hussein's grandson, also paid tribute on Instagram.

He wrote: "May Al Hussein's soul rest in peace. His memory lives on in our hearts, as we confidently continue on the path he charted, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II #OurJordan".

His brother, Prince Ali bin Hussein said he was a father to all Jordanians.

Queen Rania Al Abdullah also reposted this tribute on her own account, to her 5.1 million followers, as did the official Instagram page for the Royal Hashemite Court.

King Hussein, a member of the Hashemite family, was named a constitutional king of Jordan in 1952, and still to this day he is remembered as a beloved leader. When he died in 1999, after a long battle with cancer, his son King Abdullah II of Jordan ascended to the throne.