Ammon News - Their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla visited Umm Qais at the start of their second day in Jordan. They viewed the historic site [accompanied by Princess Dana Firas] and heard about the conservation work delivered by Turquoise Mountain, together with the Department of Antiquities and Ministry of Tourism, to protect the heritage site for future generations and support the local community.

His Royal Highness later visited Al Nuzha community centre where he met refugees and representatives from the community supported by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Rescue Committee, of which The Prince has recently become Patron. The International Rescue Committee supports refugees in transitioning from camps to local communities and assists them in finding employment. The Prince praised Jordan’s generosity in hosting refugees who fled conflict in neighboring countries and highlighted the support provided by UK Aid to seventy two thousand of the most vulnerable refugees.

Her Royal Highness visited primary school students supported by the UK through the early grade reading and maths programme (RAMP), and spoke to young Jordanian and Syrian girls whose access to education is supported by the UK funded Accelerated Access Initiative programme. HRH later participated in a Women of the World (WOW) event that promotes the empowerment of women from all walks of life.

The Duchess encouraged guests at the WOW event saying:

“You truly are a beacon of creativity, culture, [and] hope […] I very much hope that […] we will have many more opportunities to share our beliefs, celebrate each other’s achievements and discuss solutions for change.”

His Royal Highness visited the Royal Scientific Society hosted by Chairman His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan Bin Talal and President Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya Bint El Hassan to discuss how the private sector and wider society can work together to implement commitments made at COP26 in Glasgow.

His Royal Highness also attended an event to showcase the work of the Prince’s Trust International charity in Jordan, which is supporting work to build Jordan’s culture of entrepreneurship and to give young people access to work placements to support employment.

The Prince and The Duchess concluded their visit with a “Centenary Celebration” Reception at the Jordan Museum, to highlight the depth and breadth of this 100 year friendship and look forward to the next century of relations working together for our mutual benefit.

In a speech delivered to the distinguished guests in attendance, HRH said:

“I first visited this most friendly and special of countries some thirty-six years ago and have been drawn back time and again by the remarkable generosity, hospitality and courteousness for which Jordan is rightly famed.

I feel this friendship in the most personal of ways, as Jordan has always been a part of my life. King Hussein came to the throne in 1952 the same year as my dear mother, The Queen. They would be of great mutual support to each other through the decades ahead. In 1999, I was greatly touched to have been asked to give the address at the London memorial service for King Hussein in St Paul’s cathedral.

On that occasion, almost unprecedented for a foreign leader, I remembered King Hussein’s “enlightened spirit which was in harmony with those who, in earlier periods of history, were able instinctively to respect the followers of other faiths for their piety and moral character, even if they did not accept them theologically.” With Prince Ghazi at the Baptism place of Christ himself yesterday, I saw this tradition continued in the most moving way.

Over the last twenty two years, under the leadership of King Abdullah II, we have continued to look to Jordan not only as a friend but, as in the time of his father, as a constant voice of moderation, understanding and tolerance. In this regard, His Majesty’s role as Custodian of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem is a vital element in the search for peace in the region.”