DUBAI: Congratulations are in order for Jordan’s Princess Raiyah bint Al-Hussein, who got married to the grandson of beloved children’s author Roald Dahl, Ned Donovan.
The couple were set to marry in Jordan in April, however, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the newly-weds tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in the UK, surrounded by close friends and family.
The bride, 34, posted pictures from the ceremony on her Twitter account, and thanked well-wishers for their thoughtful messages. “Thank you all for your kind messages on our wedding! While it was originally planned for April in Jordan, the pandemic derailed those plans and it was safer for my husband’s family to hold it in the UK.God willing, we look forward to celebrating in Jordan once the situation allows,” she wrote.
Thank you all for your kind messages on our wedding!While it was originally planned for April in Jordan, the pandemic derailed those plans and it was safer for my husband’s family to hold it in the UK. God willing we look forward to celebrating in Jordan once the situation allows pic.twitter.com/moCMSOxZxp
— Raiyah bint Al-Hussein (@RaiyahHKJ) July 7, 2020
Princess Raiyah is the daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan and Queen Noor of Jordan, who was in attendance.
She is the half-sister of King Abdullah II of Jordan.
The couple got engaged on October 26, 2019. A royal statement at the time announced: “The Royal Hashemite Court extends its sincere congratulations to Her Royal Highness Princess Raiyah and to Mr Donovan on this occasion.”
26-year-old Donovan, who is a freelance journalist, converted to Islam ahead of the wedding and changed his name to Faris. He recently revealed on his website that he is currently learning Arabic, although his “Arabic is not very good” and he will “keep trying to improve it.”
