The world’s youngest queen, the beautiful Rania of Jordan, was praised for her work in improving both the lot of Jordanian women and Euro-Arab relations as she accepted an honorary doctorate in law from the University of Exeter. The 30-year-old wife of King Abdullah II addressed over 500 graduating students, advising them to aim for the “great and mighty” goals in life and not to try to anticipate the future.
Queen Rania, who holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the American University of Cairo, began working in Jordan’s capital Amman soon after her own graduation. “Another year later I was married and, more unexpectedly, found that I had become a princess in a royal family,” she told the audience.
Professor Bogdan Szajkowski, director of European studies at Exeter University, said that Queen Rania is a “most remarkable First Lady, a consummate professional and an outstanding support to King Abdullah II.” He added that she “is a great champion of women’s rights in a traditional but modernising Muslim society.” The mother of three was also recognised for her work in improving early childhood education.
Thanking the university, which has recently opened a new Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, the queen drew on her own experience to offer some sound advice for the aspiring graduates; “The only advice I give you as you ponder your immediate future is: don’t worry about it.”
The elegant monarch has recently written a book called The King’s Gift about a little girl who goes in search of the Royal Crown.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
