Rania Al-Abdullah was proclaimed queen consort of Jordan in March 1999, after husband Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein ascended the throne as King of Jordan the month prior. She, however, was involved in philanthropic causes since marrying the king in 1993. Since then, Queen Rania has devoted her energies toward public services in Jordan, specifically toward environmental causes, as well as youth and education.
In fact, The Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development was established in 2013 with goals to “improve opportunities for children and young people in Jordan and equip them… to excel in a fast-paced and competitive world,” per Royal Central. The outlet further notes that she also oversees the Royal Health Awareness Society, Madrasati, and other charitable organizations.
In a sense, she’s like Queen Elizabeth in regards to her never-ending pursuit of charity work. In fact, Queen Rania had a horde of praise for Queen Elizabeth in a new interview with ITV News. Speaking to the outlet, she said, “[Queen Elizabeth] is somebody we hold in really high regard, and she’s somebody I look up to personally.” Elsewhere in the interview, she said Elizabeth is a “symbol of what it means to be a true figurehead and stateswoman [who gives] inspiration to the rest of the world.” In light of Queen Elizabeth’s recent health scares, Queen Rania stated that “We’re always concerned for her health,” but noted, “she’s a strong woman.”