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(RTTNews) -  Jordan's King Abdullah II has issued a royal decree naming his 15-year-old eldest son Hussain Bin Abdullah as the crown prince, the palace announced Thursday.

Hussain will hold the title of the crown prince with immediate effect and "enjoy the rights and privileges of his post," said the statement issued from the palace.

The decree comes nearly five years after King Abdullah stripped his half-brother Hamza of the title, leaving him a de facto crown prince without an official appointment.
King Abdullah had named Hamza the crown prince when he succeeded his father in February 1999.

Though King Abdullah had the option of naming one of brothers or his eldest son the crown prince, he preferred to name Hamza the crown prince to honor the last wishes of his father, King Hussain Bin Talal.

by RTT Staff Writer

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