Queen Rania of Jordan was joined by the British prime minister’s wife Cherie Blair in London on Tuesday, as she launched an appeal for the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), an organisation that provides medicines for women and children in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Dressed in a dark suit and drop earrings, the 31-year-old monarch visited the British charity’s headquarters in Islington to help raise upwards of £500,000 for the cause.
Standing alongside Cherie, Queen Rania, known for her business savvy, elegance and outspokenness, was asked about Tuesday morning’s suicide attack in Israel and the effect it might have on her fundraising efforts. Saying that the incident was a reminder that both sides of the conflict were suffering, she added: “It is also clear that the suffering cannot continue. The one sure way for hope for both peoples is to have a political solution… Delaying the political peace process inevitably exposes more innocent civilians on both sides to grave danger.”
The PM’s spouse caused controversy in diplomatic circles when she concurred with the young queen, then added: “As long as young people feel they have got no hope but to blow themselves up you are never going to make progress.”
Queen Rania’s Islington engagement was the second part of her trip to London, the first having been a Monday visit to the House of Lords at the invitation of MAP president Lord David Steel.
The charity, which also works throughout refugee camps in the area, also provides basic medical assistance, health centre equipment and training for paediatric nurses. MAP also runs programmes to educate women on how to start and manage small businesses.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
