Queen Rania Of Jordan

[FashionableNerd]

I see both sides of the debate, I really do. I will, however, throw this in: Other (esp. European) monarchies do not hold much political power these days, if any. They are essentially relics. The Jordanian royal house rules the nation of Jordan and if they truly wanted to change things they could. But it would mean losing their position of power. Rania's international "work" and recognition is thus, to me, nothing more than false reassurance and lip service that something is being done. People are latching on because she's pretty and well-spoken which they don't expect from an Arab due to biased news coverage. She's what they would like to believe every Arab is like and therefore erasing ignoring the plurality in perspectives amongst Arabs.

As an Arab, I'm quite disappointed with the Jordanian royal family and especially Rania. All the money spent on building lavish homes, extravagant vacations, and ridiculous amounts of expensive and identical designer clothing is better spent on the causes she espouses. Other royal women extensively recycle their clothing, Rania rarely does it.

 

[Harumi]

Extremely well said FashionableNerd.
I have nothing to add to the debat after that perfect post.

 

[meens]

I see both sides of the debate, I really do. I will, however, throw this in: Other (esp. European) monarchies do not hold much political power these days, if any. They are essentially relics. The Jordanian royal house rules the nation of Jordan and if they truly wanted to change things they could. But it would mean losing their position of power. Rania's international "work" and recognition is thus, to me, nothing more than false reassurance and lip service that something is being done. People are latching on because she's pretty and well-spoken which they don't expect from an Arab due to biased news coverage. She's what they would like to believe every Arab is like and therefore erasing ignoring the plurality in perspectives amongst Arabs.

As an Arab, I'm quite disappointed with the Jordanian royal family and especially Rania. All the money spent on building lavish homes, extravagant vacations, and ridiculous amounts of expensive and identical designer clothing is better spent on the causes she espouses. Other royal women extensively recycle their clothing, Rania rarely does it.

I think that you bring up some fantastic points. She is the Queen of a country that is plagued with the spectrum of ills that are found in underdeveloped countries.
While I realize that that does not mean that she should be going around wearing a potato sack and "riding a camel", it does mean that when she goes around in five thousand dollar custom made couture gowns, the latest bags off the runways and shoes that cost more than most Jordanians make in a year, there is something that just doesn't sit right.
Michelle Obama is the wife of the president of the free world, the first lady of one of the richest countries in the world, and she was criticized a few months ago because people thought she had a purse that cost a thousand dollars (which turned out not to be true) at a time of economic crisis. Cindy McCain was excoriated by the press because she was wearing an expensive outfit at the republican convention, and she is the heiress to some hundred million dollars!
Why shouldn't Queen Rania be held to the same standards? I think she should take a page from Mrs. Obama's fashion book and wear a little more J-Crew and less J Mendel.
Human rights and women's education are some honorable causes to champion but I think that they could still be championed by her without having to spend lavish amounts of state money on designer labels.

 

[ForChicSake]

^Just saw your post, ForChicSake. I am afraid you completely missed my point.

I personally fails to see how attending one glamorous party after another (Met Gala, 'charity' galas, etc.), doing photo shoot with Hello magazine and other gossip rags at least twice a year, vacationing with Bono in the South of France, etc is doing any difference or raising any profile aside from her own.
On that basis, any socialite is 'making a difference' just by living the high life.

She certainly is involved in charitable causes (like all members of any Royal family) but when you see the situation in her own country, you'd think she'd be more useful preaching to her husband than on Oprah's couch.

When it comes to finances, European Royal Houses are given allowances and have to keep records and explain themselves when they go over budget.
In Jordan, there is no real division between public and private finances so the Jordanian don't have a say as to how their 'hard earned money' are spend by their Royal family.

As for other Royal Houses not doing anything, what an truly ignorant statement.
Google is your best friend.

Is Rania beautiful, well dressed, well-spoken, intelligent? Is she a fabulous ambassador for Jordan?
Yes to all of these.

Is she a great, selfless humanitarian?
Well, only if you chose to believe the hype.

okay, pardon me about other royals not doing anything for charity that was a cheap shot.

one your first observation about her gala events/magazine shoots, she is raising the profile of Jordan isn't that a good thing? she is queen and when i think of jordan personally the first person who recognise and associate jordan with is rania al-abudullah (she's the only jordanian i know). so yes it is raising her profile but she raises the profile of her country. she gets these invites/photoshoot sessions because people want to see her, hear her and be involved or associated with her and what she's doing.

you need to see some of the situations in almost all of the richest countries in the world. yes, many many rich countries have great cities, towns, villages but they all have places you would not see in your travel brochure or in your whole life time and conditions/situations you would not think still existed but do.

yes, the royals do have budgets in europe and yes they get slapped on the wrist, what say once a year for 1 issue out of 20 that they get found out about. they overspend our money and they always will do because they know they can, they won't go to jail for it so they will do it again and again


selfless humantarian, find me one please. no one not you (sorry for assuming) or i do anything good or greater for nothing. if i give to charity, it might not be money i get in return but the thanks i recieve is something isn't it?

 

[Babypink920]

Honestly,

We need more role models like queen rania in my opinion. Coming from a middle eastern background, you hardly ever see a famous arab, muslim individual with other famous people. We need more elegant, smart faces out there . . to break the dumb sterotypes! I agree with the post, she really is representing more then jordan. While, I agree the situation in Jordan could be better, frankly you can say the same everywhere. Look at the US. It's not always easy to effect change...look at the healthcare debate in the states.

As far as her dressing is concerned. I really don't see the big deal. She is royalty. All royals wear expensive clothes. She does recycle some pieces as well. I don't understand the fact that if you wear $$ clothes, etc. that you are not a humanitarian and don't care about other individuals? I spend my days helping people professionally, and give a lot to charity - not to gain anything, but because I strongly believe in the causes. I also, buy designer things. Could I save that money and donate it as well? Probably, but I also see it fit to enjoy life in some ways, and buy things I'd like for myself. As does QR, probably, but on a much larger scale. I don't think it negates her humantarian work. I do believe she is very passionate about certain issues.

And frankly, if she weren't so put together - people probably wouldn't pay much attention to her, and her opinions wouldn't be getting across, so more power to her.

 

[ForChicSake]

hola.com

 

[ForChicSake]

around Manhattan



newscom

 

[chaucer]

What day were these pictures taken? I couldn't get into Newscom to find out on my own. Thanks.

 

[Olimpia]

I like that white blouse! I wonder if there is a full picture of it complete.

Wow, in the pics around NY she looks so different! Her hair would make me think she is a rock star rather than a queen. So versatile.

 

[weoui]

i want her eyebrows!

 

[FashionST]

I love Queen Rania; She is the essence of class

 

[Empress Merel]

At least she's doing something! The rest of the Royal Houses sit on their ****s and spend our hard earned money doing nothing at all. Is that better?

Me being very loyal to the Dutch house feels insulted. I can't even begin to name what they have done for my country. Let alone our Queen! That woman has dedicated her whole life and human being in name of her people and country. Always doing her best and at the same time raising 5 sons who all have established families and educations. So please, get your facts straight.

 

[ForChicSake]

What day were these pictures taken? I couldn't get into Newscom to find out on my own. Thanks.

dated the 26th

 

[The_Ida]

Me being very loyal to the Dutch house feels insulted. I can't even begin to name what they have done for my country. Let alone our Queen! That woman has dedicated her whole life and human being in name of her people and country. Always doing her best and at the same time raising 5 sons who all have established families and educations. So please, get your facts straight.

I have my facts straight

 

[The_Ida]

The Jordanian royal house rules the nation of Jordan and if they truly wanted to change things they could. But it would mean losing their position of power. Rania's international "work" and recognition is thus, to me, nothing more than false reassurance and lip service that something is being done.

She can't do magic. She can't force the people to do as she wants them to do. If she tries that - hello civil war. Iran being the shining example...fortunately she and her husband aren't as ignorant as the Shah and Farah Diba. Rania is in a difficult position.

We've seen it before. Any change has to be implemented gradually, that is the same for all countries.

 

[Empress Merel]

I have my facts straight

Then I hope you don't include Queen Beatrix and the Crownprincely couple.
Queen Beatrix, just like Queen Elizabeth, devoted her life for something she was born in. She has worked so hard, harder then Queen Rania ever will have to, she doesn't deserve to be told she is sitting on the money of her people.

 

[dazzling85]

I can see how you fail to see what it is she is doing. Firstly, I think you either have to be there or at least look into the matter. Her job isn't just getting Jordan running - she is an ambassador for the entire Middle East. No one else has taken this task. She is the one debating Islam, poverty, women's rights, all the prejudices she has faced...she is not just a socialite, she and her husband are responsible for an entire country! And she is the only one doing it. And about the finances...she really can't buy so many clothes that she ruins the entire country. She's no Farah Diba.

She clearly isn't attending fancy dinner parties every day of the week, and she certainly doesn't vacation with Bono 5 times a year, that is just untrue.

And btw...the European royal houses can spend as much as they want, no one would EVER reprimand them. I'm so sick of paying half of what I earn in taxes so the royal danish family can sit at home and smoke 40 cigarettes a day. That is all they do. That is not ignorant, that is a fact - you can google until your eyes fall out, but all the boards and associations and unions they are presidenting...guess what, it's all for show.

I am from the Middle East and I dont accept Rania to represent me nor my country. Yes I do think all what she does is great but I dont agree with her as a muslim Queen spending her holidays on Bono's yacht in her husbands absents (Barcelona 2009). Spending 500,000mil Euro a week on a rented 36-bedroom yacht etc. Jordanians are 70% covered women and she represents them as total free contry in sleevless tops. I odnt care for what she wears but as a Queen I would say dress like one. No other monrachy would dress or act the way she is, yes she might be younger but they were young once and did not do what she did.

Rania atteneds the all the charity events with celebrities all year round, London, States and you never hear of a charity for Jordan nor money raised for Jordan.

Jordan is a poor country you can see it in pictures, when you visit Jordan word poor screams yet you have a young Queen who dresses in Couture (she brought 4 Stephan Rolland dresses starting at 18,000 Euro's & this is besides what we know of) , expensive designer outfits. She is a Queen with no political act in Jordan yet on her visit to New York 2009 she could only talk politics.

FYI, In Jordan, if you talk about the King or Queen you go to Jail yet she makes Jordan seem it has democracy.

I know Rania from close as living in the region, the picture of her is quite different then the one she has in the Western world.

 

[Empress Merel]

Another difference between Rania and her other Queen-collegues. She is the Queen-consort. Her status and duties are a lot different then the women who are the true Queens.

 

[dazzling85]

Does anyone know if Rania owns any Birkins? I dont recall seeing her carrying one.

 

[chaucer]

Rania atteneds the all the charity events with celebrities all year round, London, States and you never hear of a charity for Jordan nor money raised for Jordan.

I have often thought this myself. A lot of her public duties in recent years have increasingly become about people in other (poor) countries — global initiatives that boost her international humanitarian credentials but don't appear to have a demonstrable benefit for Jordan or its people. I would think the welfare of Jordan would be her first priority as its queen, even as a queen consort.

I also agree with your comments regarding her expensive clothing habit. It looks like an addiction to me. I understand that public figures need to look presentable but she takes it to extremes, replacing her entire wardrobe every few months with pricey designer labels. She should be glad Jordan is not a democracy — if it was, she would be vilified by Jordanians for her obsessive shopping.