How does the Crown Prince of Jordan balance elegance and protocol?

From the official suit and military uniform to semi-formal clothes and the “Nashama” national team shirt, the looks of Jordan’s Crown Prince, Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, vary according to the nature of the occasions in which he participates. This diversity is not only related to the pieces of clothing, but also to the level of formality imposed by the occasion, the manner in which the Crown Prince of Jordan attends, and the place in which the meeting takes place.

While the formal suit is worn on diplomatic and institutional occasions, his options seem more flexible on some field visits, while the military uniform is linked to the requirements of the military institution, while T-shirts are linked to sporting events. This diversity was evident in a number of recent field visits. On a visit to a farm in the Mafraq region in northern Jordan, the Crown Prince chose a classic white shirt that he coordinated with a sleeveless jacket known as a “vest,” sunglasses, a large watch, and sports shoes.

On a visit to the site of the Baptism of Jesus Christ (the Baptism), he appeared in a classic white shirt, dark pants, and sneakers, with sunglasses with black titanium frames. From the perspective of royal protocol, one cannot read appearance in isolation from its context, or assume that every choice in clothing carries an intended political or diplomatic message.

The suitability of the outfit is mainly determined by the nature of the event, its level of formality, and the applicable instructions, while some details may gain additional connotations when linked to national or historical symbols. The Jordanian expert in royal protocol and diplomatic etiquette, Lina Salama Nasser, explains in an interview with the Ofoq News website in Arabic about the looks of the Crown Prince of Jordan, and how the official dress code intersects with the nature of the occasion, national symbolism, and non-verbal communication.

Classic-cut suits appear in a number of official civil occasions in which the Crown Prince of Jordan participates, while some of his looks during university and field visits tend towards combinations of shirt, jacket and trousers, sometimes without a tie. Nasser explains that choosing a costume depends on several factors, most notably the nature of the occasion, the level of formal representation, the location, the program, and the approved dress instructions.

She adds that a suit and tie are common choices for formal civil occasions, while semi-formal clothing may be appropriate for some university and field visits. She points out the need to distinguish between the importance of the event and the level of formality required by the dress; The visit may be of institutional or national importance, but does not require wearing a formal suit.

Also, appearing without a tie is not considered a protocol violation in itself, unless the event instructions dictate otherwise. Nasser points out that less formal clothing may be appropriate for meetings based on dialogue and direct interaction, but this does not necessarily mean that her choice aims to convey a specific message to the audience.

Classic colors and their connotations are repeated in the looks of the Crown Prince of Jordan, colors such as navy blue and blue in shades, along with black, white, and grey, which are familiar options in official civilian clothing. But the repetition of these colors alone is not enough to infer specific protocol implications.

Nasser believes that the royal protocol does not impose one color for all occasions, and does not give colors fixed diplomatic connotations. The reading of color is affected by the context in which it appears, the nature of the event, and its level of formality.

Connotations of wedding uniforms Nasser points out that the connotations of the military uniform worn by the Crown Prince of Jordan at his wedding in 2023 go beyond the ceremonial aspect, as its design was inspired by King Abdullah II’s wedding suit in 1993, while some details in the sleeves recalled other designs associated with King Abdullah II and the founding King Abdullah I. For sporting events...their appearance. The presence of the Crown Prince of Jordan at sporting events differs from his participation in official ceremonies, a difference that is reflected in his clothing choices, as he appears in the stands, wearing T-shirts or the Jordanian national team shirt, a choice that is directly related to the occasion and the team he supports.

In this context, the shirt acquires a national significance linked to the representation of the Jordanian national team, but it also remains an option that suits the nature of the sporting event.