Widowhood
King Hussein died on February 7, 1999, following a long battle with cancer. After his death, his firstborn son, Abdullah, became king and Hamzah became Crown Prince. In a surprise move of 2004, Prince Hamzah was stripped of his title as Jordan's next in line. On 2 July 2009, King Abdullah II named his eldest son as heir to the throne, ending five years of speculation over his successor.
Though the queen dowager, she is stepmother to King Abdullah II and thus cannot be classified as queen mother; accordingly she is known as HM Queen Noor of Jordan, as distinct from Abdullah's wife Queen Rania, who is styled HM The Queen of Jordan. The present King's mother is Princess Muna al-Hussein, an Englishwoman formerly known as Antoinette Avril Gardiner.
Read more about this topic: Queen Noor Of Jordan
Famous quotes containing the word widowhood:
“The comfortable estate of widowhood is the only hope that keeps up a wife’s spirits.”
—John Gay (1685–1732)
“The comfortable estate of widowhood is the only hope that keeps up a wife’s spirits.”
—John Gay (1685–1732)
“Let me approach at least, and touch thy hand.
[Samson:] Not for thy life, lest fierce remembrance wake
My sudden rage to tear thee joint by joint.
At distance I forgive thee, go with that;
Bewail thy falsehood, and the pious works
It hath brought forth to make thee memorable
Among illustrious women, faithful wives:
Cherish thy hast’n’d widowhood with the gold
Of Matrimonial treason: so farewel.”
—John Milton (1608–1674)