Many hopeful brides and grooms have seen their dreams put on hold as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but one (socially distanced) royal wedding went ahead on Tuesday.
Princess Raiyah of Jordan and Ned Donovan, the grandson of author Roald Dahl, tied the knot in a small ceremony in the UK after their April wedding was “derailed.”
Princess Raiyah shared two pictures from their ceremony, which included a snapshot of her elegant outfit and Donovan signing documents.
It is not known where the pair were married, but it appeared to be a country estate where the pair posed in the garden for photographs.
The Jordanian princess revealed the original plan was to tie the knot in Jordan in April but “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 continued.
Princess Raiyah’s mother, Queen Noor, was able to attend the nuptials and was pictured with her daughter smiling in a blue outfit.
Princess Raiyah wore an elegant floor-length gown covered with floral lace, a long veil and a diamond and sapphire circlet.
Donovan wore a morning coat, pale blue waistcoat and fuschia socks.
Other pictures showed the couple and four other attendees, including Queen Noor, sitting two metres apart from one another on chairs in a garden setting.
Princess Raiyah and Donovan got engaged in October. She is the fourth daughter of Queen Noor and the late King Hussein of Jordan and the half sister of King Abdullah II of Jordan. The princess is an academic specialising in Japanese Studies with a master’s degree from Columbia University in New York. She is also working on a PhD in Japanese literature at UCLA. She has also previously studied in Japan.
Donovan is a freelance journalist with bylines in titles such as the New Statesman. According to The National, he converted to Islam ahead of their wedding. He previously revealed he has been learning Arabic, but is “not very good” at it.
Another high profile royal wedding was set to take place this year, as Princess Beatrice and real estate developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi set to be married in the spring. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the pair have put their plans on hold for now.
