The Jordanian royal family will be celebrating the New Year in style as the heir to the throne Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II starts 2018 as a Commissioned Officer. His Royal Highness graduated earlier this year at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst’s Sovereign's Parade – and to celebrate the special occasion, the family have broken with tradition.
The Hashmite New Year card which was sent to HELLO! shows three Royals as Military Academy of Sandhurst graduates: the late King Hussein bin Talal (1952), the actual King Abdullah II (1981) and the Crown Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II (2017). It is the first time in years that the New Year's card does not show the Royal Family, with Queen Rania and her other daughters and son.
This year's New Year's card
Appearing on their annual New Year card, a black and white picture of Crown Prince Abdullah II appears alongside ones of his father, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and grandfather, Al Hussein Bin Talal.
This is because Crown Prince Hussein received his honouree earlier this year. This follows in the footsteps of his father – King Abdullah – as he graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1981. And Hussein bin Talal – far left – is pictured in 1952, when he inherited the throne at just 17 years old.
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Crown Prince Hussein, born in 1994, enrolled in Sandhurst last year after he received a major in International History at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
At the honouree event His Majesty King Abdullah, who acted as a patron, was escorted by the guard of honour as Jordan’s national anthem was played. King Abdullah delivered a speech giving remarks to the senior Division and the Intermediate and Junior Divisions.
The picture the family sent out in 2016
Tweeting later on, after the event King Abdullah paid tribute to his son Hussein: "Proud of you, son, as you conclude this important chapter in your life and devotedly carry on serving our beloved Jordan."
Queen Rania – Abdullah's wife – also took to Twitter to share her joyful news over her son: "You have given us countless reasons to be proud of the man you have become. Congratulations on graduating from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, in the footsteps of your father, we are both so very proud of you!"