“The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with representative government. The reigning monarch is the head of state, the chief executive and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The King exercised his executive authority through the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers (Cabinet).” (Jordanian Government Website 2009)
By the time of his death in February 1999, King Hussein (who became king in 1952)was well on his way to becoming one of the great peacemakers in history. From his frantic efforts at diplomacy to avert the 1991 Gulf War to his peace agreement with Israel in 1994, the articulate king came to be seen as a beacon of moderateness and stability in a region known for its volatility. He had three other siblings being Prince Muhammad, Prince Hassan, and Princess Basma. Hussein went on to marry four times, sired eleven children and adopted one daughter.
His four wives and their offspring were:
Sharifa Dina bint ‘Abdu’l-Hamid; Egyptian-born third cousin of King Hussein’s father. She produced a daughter named Her Royal Highness Princess Alia bint Al Hussein (born 1956).
Antoinette Avril Gardiner (‘Toni Gardiner’), (born Chelmondiston). She was given the title Her Royal Highness Princess Muna al-Hussein. She produced 3 children the first being His Majesty Abdullah II, King of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (born 1962); the current King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He is married to Rania Al-Yassin now Queen Rania and they have four children Prince Hussein, Princess Iman, Princess Salma and Prince Hashem.
Hussein and Antoinette’s other children are His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin al-Hussein of Jordan, Her Royal Highness Princess Aisha bint Hussein (born 1968), and Her Royal Highness Princess Zein bint Hussein.
Alia Baha el-Din Toukan produced 3 children Her Royal Highness Princess Haya bint Hussein, His Royal Highness Prince Ali bin Hussein of Jordan. They also adopted a daughter called Abir Muhaisen.
American-born Lisa Najeeb Halaby, (renamed Queen Noor al Hussein on her conversion to Islam). She produced 4 children His Royal Highness Prince Hamzah bin al Hussein of Jordan, His Royal Highness Prince Hashim bin Al Hussein of Jordan, Her Royal Highness Princess Iman bint Hussein and Her Royal Highness Princess Raiyah bint Hussein.
His first son Abdullah became King of Jordan after Hussein’s death on Feburary 7th 1999. reportedly a 43rd-generation direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad. Since mid-1999, Abdullah has visited important leaders in the region, including Jordan’s old foes, Syria and Libya. He also went to Paris, Washington and London to ensure financial support for major Western allies, and successfully obtained US$ 300 million in aid from the USA. Throughout the Al-Aqsa intifada in the Palestinian territories, Abdullah has been one of the voices of moderation within the Arab world, preferring diplomacy as a means of bringing about a peace settlement. This stance has won him much respect in international circles.