King Hussein’s eldest son to be crown prince

AMMAN, JAN 24: King Hussein of Jordan informed the royal family here that he has decided to make his eldest son Prince Abdallah ibn Hussein crown prince, informed sources told AFP on Sunday. “The royal family, including the king’s brother Prince Hassan, unanimously support the king’s decision,” the sources said.

The king’s decision to return the succession to his son, Prince Abdallah ibn Hussein, is seen as being fully in accordance with the constitution “which provides for the succession going to the eldest son in the first place,” the sources added.

Prince Abdallah, who turns 37 on January 30, was originally appointed crown prince in 1963, when he was only one year old, but his father replaced him with Hassan in 1965 fearing a long regency for the boy in the event of his death.