Continuing our summer series on the lines of succession to the world’s monarchies, we are looking at the line of succession to the Jordanian throne, which operates under agnatic primogeniture. Specifically, the line of succession is governed by Article 28 of the Constitution of Jordan. Only mentally sound men who are Muslim who were born to Muslim parents and are legitimate descendants of King Abdullah I can ascend the throne.
The King of Jordan can determine his heir via a royal decree, and they can also bar someone from the line of succession through a decree. If a king dies without an heir or appointed heir, the National Assembly chooses the next monarch from the descendants of Hussein bin Ali who led the Arab Revolt in the early 1900s.
Article 28 states, “The Royal title shall pass from the holder of the Throne to his eldest son and to the eldest son of that son and in linear succession by a similar process thereafter. Should the eldest son die before the Throne devolves upon him, his eldest son shall inherit the Throne, despite the existence of brothers to the deceased son. The King may, however, select one of his brothers as heir apparent. In this event, title to the Throne shall pass to him from the holder of the Throne.”
There are currently 37 in the line of succession, but this article will only focus on those descending from the current monarch’s father, King Hussein.
Jordan’s current monarch is King Abdullah II, who came to the throne upon the death of his father, King Hussein in 1999.
First in line is the King’s son, Crown Prince Hussein (b. 1994). Hussein is the eldest child of King Abdullah and his wife, Queen Rania. As only males ascend the throne, his two younger sisters (Princesses Iman and Salma) are not eligible to ascend the throne and follow him in the line of succession.
Embed from Getty ImagesFollowing Hussein, is the King and Queen’s youngest child, Prince Hashem (b. 2005).
Embed from Getty ImagesThird is the King’s oldest younger brother, Prince Faisal (b. 1963).
Fourth in line is Prince Faisal’s eldest son, Prince Omar (b. 1993). Fifth is Faisal’s second youngest son, Prince Abdullah (b. 2016) and sixth is his youngest son, Prince Muhammad (b. 2017).
Taking up seventh in the line of succession is Prince Ali – King Abdullah’s younger half-brother – from his father’s second marriage to Queen Alia. Ali was born in 1975.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe eighth person in line to the Jordanian throne is Prince Ali’s son, Prince Abdullah (b. 2007). He is followed by his uncle, Prince Hamzah (b. 1980), who is the third son of King Hussein and younger half-brother of both King Abdullah and Prince Ali. His mother is American-born Queen Noor.
Embed from Getty ImagesTenth in line is King Hussein and Queen Noor’s youngest son, Prince Hashim (b. 1981).
Embed from Getty ImagesThe eleventh spot is taken by Prince Hashim’s son, Prince Hussein Haidara (b. 2015).
You can read our other lines of succession posts here.
