Day 2: Read the latest from Prince Charles and Camilla's visit to Jordan here
Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, met Jordan's king and queen on Tuesday at the Jordanian Royal Family's Al Husseiniya Palace, the first overseas tour by a British royal since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
Jordan is a former British protectorate with close ties to the United States and the West. The country is struggling to cope with the effects of environmental degradation, an issue of concern to Prince Charles, who sponsors at least one charity in the kingdom.
Photos released by the Royal Court in Amman showed the couple in front of a row of Jordanian and British flags at the Al Husseiniya Palace, where King Abdullah conducts most of his official business, on the outskirts of the Jordanian capital.
"How hugely we all admire Jordan and your Majesty’s efforts on looking after so many refugees coming from all around the area," the Prince of Wales said.
"Jordan is so unbelievably hospitable."
Jordan has 650,000 registered Syrian refugees and more than two million Palestinians. Most of the Palestinian refugees have Jordanian citizenship.
The two men were in suits while Queen Rania wore a solid cream dress and Camilla was in dressed in mosaic blue.
“It is always very special indeed to come back to Jordan – I’m sorry this time it is 19 months late,” the prince said, referring to the coronavirus.
“The fact that we can come back is hugely encouraging."
Speaking about Jordan’s water shortage, the king said there had only been “a little bit of rain” in the country.
He said the situation could be worse next year “unless things change”.
“We are tremendously delighted to welcome you back,” King Abdullah said, pointing out his own father’s good relationship with Prince Charles.
Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, King Abdullah's cousin and adviser, received the couple at Queen Alia International Airport.
Prince Charles and Camilla descended from the plane and walked past a guard of honour by Jordanian soldiers carrying rifle bayonets and wearing olive Bedouin military uniform.
They will have dinner with the king and queen on Tuesday. Prince Charles will give a speech on Wednesday at the Jordan Museum in Amman on the occasion of the country's centenary.
Jordan was established as the British Protectorate of Transjordan 100 years ago, with Emir Abdullah, the king's great grandfather, as its first Hashemite monarch.
They will visit the purported site of Jesus's baptism on the Jordan River. Jordanian authorities hope to turn the site into a major tourist attraction by building hotels in the area.
The couple will also visit the Roman city of Ghadara in northern Jordan and meet officials from charities linked to Prince Charles.
The royal couple will spend two days in Jordan before travelling to Egypt on Thursday morning.
The tour went ahead even as the royal family deals with Queen Elizabeth II's health concerns.
Last week, Prince Charles took part in the UN's climate change conference, Cop26. Climate change is expected to be one of the main themes of the current visit.
Illegal digging of ground wells is depleting aquifers in Jordan, which is among the driest countries in the world. The country's main Azraq oasis west of Amman dried up decades ago because its water was diverted, mainly for agriculture.
Other issues expected to be discussed include interfaith dialogue, female empowerment and efforts to preserve cultural heritage.
The prince oversees Turquoise Mountain, a charity active in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Myanmar. It is helping to preserve carpentry and other crafts in the region, such as fine stonework, relying significantly on refugees from Syria to pass on their knowledge.
Prince Charles's connections helped secure a spacious white stone villa in Amman as the organisation's headquarters in Jordan. It belonged to Sheikh Nasser Al Sabah, a late senior member of the Kuwaiti royal family, who was a patron of the arts and a friend of Prince Charles.
Before he died last year, Sheikh Al Sabah lent the villa to Turquoise Mountain to use as a training centre.
Chris Fitzgerald, deputy private secretary of the Prince of Wales, said before the visit that the tour comes "at a significant moment in the UK's relationship" with Jordan and Egypt.
Royal visits to the Middle East - in pictures
Results
5pm: Reem Island – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Farasah, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi
5.30pm: Sir Baniyas Island – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: SSR Ghazwan, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Astral Del Sol, Sean Kirrane, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Al Maryah Island – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Toumadher, Dane O’Neill, Jaber Bittar
7pm: Yas Island – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Saadiyat Island – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,400m; Winner: Celestial Spheres, Gary Sanchez, Ismail Mohammed
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
Brief scoreline
Switzerland 0
England 0
Result: England win 6-5 on penalties
Man of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 4 (Salah (pen 4, 33', & pen 88', Van Dijk (20')
Leeds United 3 (Harrison 12', Bamford 30', Klich 66')
Man of the match Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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The biog
Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
Favourite car: Lamborghini
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3ECompany%20name%3A%20CarbonSifr%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202022%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Onur%20Elgun%2C%20Mustafa%20Bosca%20and%20Muhammed%20Yildirim%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Climate%20tech%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%241%20million%20raised%20in%20seed%20funding%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
