Royal wedding showpiece highlights Jordan's role as West's stable ally

Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein celebrates with colleagues before the start of a dinner held by his father King Abdullah II in celebration of Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif's upcoming wedding, at the Royal Hashemite Court in Amman, Jordan May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Muath Freij

AMMAN (Reuters) -The heir to Jordan's throne will marry amid much fanfare on Thursday, in a glittering ceremony that the country's leaders, long backed by the West as a stabilising influence in a volatile region, hope will reinforce local and global alliances.

The 28-year-old Prince Hussein, named as heir by his father King Abdullah in 2009, will tie the knot with Saudi architect Rajwa Al Saif, 29, who hails from a prominent family with links to her country's ruling dynasty.