Region | Jordan
Jordan's king names eldest son crown prince
Jordan's King Abdullah II on Thursday officially named his eldest son, Hussain, 15, crown prince in a royal decree, the palace announced.
- By Jumana Al Tamimi, Associate Editor
- Published: 19:53 July 2, 2009
Dubai: Jordan's King Abdullah II on Thursday officially named his eldest son, Hussain, 15, crown prince in a royal decree, the palace announced.
A royal court official told Gulf News that "this is a normal process", stressing the timing carries no specific meaning.
"The constitution is very clear. The line of succession in Jordan is explicitly clear, the eldest son of His Majesty is the heir to the throne and the crown prince."
The crown prince position in Jordan carries no political duties.
The naming of the crown prince comes nearly five years after King Abdullah, 47, stripped his half-brother Hamza of the title.
When he became king in February 1999 after the death of his father, Hussain Bin Talal, King Abdullah named his brother Hamza crown prince in keeping with their father's wishes.
But five years later, he withdrew the nomination, leaving Prince Hussain as de facto crown prince but without an official appointment.
The king had the option of either appointing one of his brothers, Prince Faisal or Prince Ali, or naming his son, Prince Hussain, crown prince.
King Abdullah and his wife, Queen Rania, have two boys and two girls. Prince Hashim is 4 years old, Princess Iman is 13 and Princess Salma is 9.
With inputs from AFP
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