Jordan’s Princess Salma bint Abdullah has graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The youngest daughter of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania graduated yesterday from a Short Commissioning Course with almost her full family in attendance at the ceremony in the United Kingdom.
King Abdullah, Queen Rania, Crown Prince Hussein, and Princess Iman (who attends Georgetown University in Washington D.C. was able to attend due to Thanksgiving break in the US) were all there to support Salma in her latest achievement. The only one missing was Prince Hashem. She followed in the footsteps of her father and older brother – both Sandhurst graduates themselves – as well as her grandfather, King Hussein and several uncles.
Salma is not the first female member of her family to graduate from Sandhurst. Her paternal aunt, Princess Aisha bint Hussein graduated from the military academy in 1987. Aisha was the first Middle Eastern woman to attend Sandhurst and went on to serve in Jordan’s special forces. Another aunt, Princess Iman graduated in 2003.
The close-knit family took plenty of photos at the completion of the ceremony with hugs all around for the Princess.
Avid social media user, Queen Rania made sure to post on her Instagram about 18-year-old Salma’s graduation remarking, “From a graduation gown a few months ago to a military uniform today, you have proven how capable you are! Congratulations to our daughter Salma on graduating from a Short Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.”
On Instagram, Crown Prince Hussein praised his little sister saying, “We are always proud of you.”
Princess Salma bint Abdullah was born on 26 September 2000 in Amman, Jordan as the second daughter and third child of King Abdullah and Queen Rania. She has one younger brother, Prince Hashem. She graduated in May of this year from the International Amman Academy.