(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)
Amman, Jan. 29 (Petra) -- Jordanians will Monday celebrate the 61st birthday of His Majesty King Abdullah II, the eldest son of His Majesty the late King Hussein bin Talal, and Her Highness Princess Mona Al-Hussein, and the 41st direct descendant of Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him.
His Majesty King Abdullah II was born in Amman on January 30, 1962. He ascended to the throne on February 7, 1999, upon the passing of His Majesty the late King Hussein.
King Abdullah attended St. Edmund's School in Surrey, England after finishing his primary education at the Islamic Educational College in Amman. In the US, he attended Deerfield Academy and Eaglebrook School for his secondary education.
In 1980, King Abdullah enrolled at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in the United Kingdom, and in 1981, he received his commission as a second lieutenant.
In 1982, he enlisted in the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, rising through the ranks to command the Royal Jordanian Special Forces and Special Operations.
The King attended Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Washington, DC, where he graduated with a Master's Degree in Foreign Service and an advanced research and study program in international affairs in 1987.
After returning to active duty in 1989, the King was promoted to Brigadier General in 1994 and appointed commander of the Royal Jordanian Special Forces and Special Operations.
King Abdullah married Her Majesty Queen Rania on June 10, 1993, and they have four children: Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Hussein, Princess Iman, Princess Salma and Prince Hashem.
As the nation celebrates this dear occasion, His Majesty continues to spearhead a march full of tireless effort, generous giving, and lofty determination that has brought about a complete renaissance for the country and its young people as it enters its second centennial.
To ensure the best future for Jordan and its people, the King is leading a comprehensive modernization of the state's political, economic, and administrative structures.
Through ongoing meetings with the nation's young women, men, and dignitaries, His Majesty has been committed to looking firsthand at the living conditions of citizens across the kingdom and inaugurated numerous projects across all sectors.
His Majesty King Abdullah II has dedicated his life to upholding Jordan as an oasis of development in a troubled region. This has included making significant investments in his people's enormous human capital, fighting terrorism and extremism from all angles, and working tirelessly to safeguard and increase the chances for peace in the Middle East.
Despite Jordan's scarce resources, the King has opened Jordan's doors to millions of refugees, following a long Hashemite tradition of hospitality to displaced people in need.
King Abdullah II has received a number of prestigious honors in recognition of his work to advance peace and moderation, foster interfaith harmony, and protect the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem under Hashemite Custodianship. These include the Peace of Westphalia Prize, the Templeton Prize in the United States, Italy's Lamp of Peace of St. Francis, and the Scholar-Statesman Award from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
King Abdullah II is the author of Our Last Best Chance: The Pursuit of Peace in a Time of Peril (2011), in which he sets out Jordan's vision for resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict.
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