The Speech from the Throne.. A constitutional tradition since 1929 and a royal attire in two colors

His late Majesty the Founding King Abdullah I bin Al-Hussein had tasked the Prime Minister with delivering the Speech from the Throne on six occasions between 1929 and 1947, while the tradition of the King delivering the Speech from the Throne himself continued in subsequent parliamentary sessions.

Article 79 of the Jordanian Constitution stipulates that the King shall open the ordinary session of Parliament by delivering the Speech from the Throne before the Senate and the House of Representatives combined, and he may delegate the Prime Minister or one of the ministers to perform the opening ceremonies and deliver the speech.

The Speech from the Throne reviews national policies and trends related to domestic and foreign issues, and constitutes an occasion to present the royal vision regarding paths of reform, modernization, and the challenges facing the Kingdom.

The topics covered in previous Speeches from the Throne included political, economic, and administrative reform, strengthening national unity, and developing services, education, and health, in addition to the Palestinian cause and the defense of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem within the framework of the Hashemite Custodianship.

Throne Attire

His Majesty King Abdullah II wears a special throne attire on two occasions: the day of accession to the throne and the occasion of delivering the Royal Speech from the Throne.

The throne attire comes in two colors, white and black; the white attire is worn in summer, and the black in winter. The throne attire expresses grandeur and prestige, and is considered a sovereign manifestation of the state, linked to royal traditions and constitutional requirements, under the hereditary parliamentary constitutional monarchy system stipulated in the first article of the Constitution.

Throne attire at the Museum of Parliamentary Life

The Museum of Parliamentary Life preserves His Majesty King Abdullah II's throne attire among its holdings that document the history of political and constitutional life in Jordan.

The museum is located in the old Parliament building in Amman, which was used to hold sessions of the Legislative Council and Parliament during the period from 1942 to 1978.

The museum houses historical documents and artifacts, including a replica of the Kingdom's Independence Declaration document of 1946, a copy of the Official Gazette in which the 1952 Constitution was published, in addition to artifacts belonging to the Founding King Abdullah I.

It also includes photographs, documents, and audio recordings related to parliamentary life and the speeches of Jordan's kings, allowing visitors to learn about the milestones of the state institutions' development and constitutional life.

Royal Ceremonies

The opening of the ordinary session of Parliament is linked to official royal ceremonies, which have witnessed on previous occasions reception ceremonies upon His Majesty the King's arrival at Parliament, the playing of the Royal Anthem, and a review of the honor guard.

The opening of the second ordinary session on October 26, 2025, witnessed the firing of 21 artillery rounds as a salute to His Majesty upon his arrival at Parliament, as part of the official ceremonies that accompanied the session's opening.

His Majesty the King will open the third ordinary session of Parliament next Monday, following the issuance of two royal decrees to postpone the meeting of Parliament and to convene it effective November 2, 2026.