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Caps, gowns, and crowns: The unexpected summit between the Jordanian royal couple and the Obamas

Recently, the University of Southern California's (USC) walls of use resonated with a mix of academia and global diplomacy. The occasion? A graduation ceremony honoring two esteemed students, Princess Salma and Sasha Obama of Jordan.

After attending the coronation of Charles III at Westminster Abbey, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan traveled to the West Coast of the United States for the graduation of their second daughter, Princess Salma, in archaeology.

Unexpectedly, the ceremony turned into an impromptu colloquium between Jordan and the United States. The Jordanian monarchs were accompanied by former U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, who came to celebrate the graduation of their daughter Sasha Obama from the USC psychology department.

 

 

The Jordanian royal family was beaming with pride, and Queen Rania expressed her excitement and hope for her daughter’s bright future in a heartfelt message on Instagram. “So proud to celebrate my Salma’s graduation yesterday from the University of Southern California. I can’t wait to see what you do next. Congratulations!” she wrote.

 

 

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Une publication partagée par Queen Rania Al Abdullah (@queenrania)

Queen Rania classy as always

Queen Rania showed off her fashion proclivities by wearing a delicate green shirt-dress, designed by renowned American designer Brandon Maxwell. A tasteful cultural mix she used to pay homage to her host country and reflect the fashion tastes she shares with Michelle Obama, a known patron of Maxwell’s designs.