Royal Bench (Jordan, Amman)

On the streets of Amman, the image of King Abdullah II looms as a familiar and constant presence. Here, in the heart of the city, his luminous portrait overlooks a stone bench where three young women laugh beneath a lamppost. This ordinary scene embodies a snapshot of contemporary Jordan, where monarchical tradition coexists with a free, cultured, and connected urban youth.

The Hashemite Kingdom, founded by the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad after their exile from the Hejaz, has been shaped by multiple influences—tribal, colonial, and Palestinian. King Abdullah II, son of King Hussein and British Antoinette Gardiner (known as Princess Muna al-Hussein), embodies this hybrid identity. Meanwhile, Queen Rania, of Palestinian descent, symbolizes a modern commitment to education, digital technology, and social rights. This royal couple thus crystallizes a deep-rooted and open Jordanian identity.

In Amman, portraits of the king line the walls like benevolent landmarks. They watch over us without dominating. They become decoration, but also collective memory. In this photo, they intersect with simple gestures: a stifled laugh, a shared glance, a fleeting pose—as if to remind us that a country's history is also told in its interstices.