His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) on Tuesday presented the Hashemite flag to JAF in a ceremony at Al Husseinieh Palace courtyard attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, Royal Family members and senior officials.

The ceremony came as the Kingdom is witnessing national festivities marking King Abdullah’s 16th coronation anniversary Tuesday, Arab Revolt anniversary and Army Day, which are marked on June 10, in addition to the Independence Day, which was celebrated in May 25.

The Hashemite flag’s colours and motifs combine elements of history, legitimacy, religion and Arabism found in the Hashemite family and the Great Arab Revolt.

In a press statement and a Facebook post, the Royal Hashemite Court said the flag has been the banner of the Hashemite family for centuries. With its original dark red colour pattern, the banner was first hoisted by Al Sharif Abu Nami in 1515, and then raised by Prince Abdullah in 1920, as he led his soldiers to Maan during the Great Arab Revolt.

The flag was temporarily used as the official flag of the Revolt, under the leadership of Sharif Hussein Bin Ali, until a new one was adopted.

By presenting the banner to JAF, with its religious, historical and military significance, His Majesty reiterated and reaffirmed his confidence in JAF and the lofty status of the armed forces and their role as a carrier of a pan-nationalist and Islamic message throughout their history and in the future.

Before the King’s arrival, the Crown Prince attended a ceremony during which the flag was brought to, and displayed in, the courtyard on one of the oldest military vehicles that was used during the 1916 Great Arab Revolt and the two world wars.

His Majesty first received the flag and then presented it to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff General Mashal Al Zaben, before it was hoisted on a special pole.

Following the ceremony, the King held a reception for the key figures who attended the event, including Their Royal Highnesses Prince Feisal bin Al Hussein, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, Prince Hashim bin Al Hussein, Prince Talal bin Muhammed, who is King’s special adviser, Prince Rashid bin El Hassan, Prince Raad, the Chief Chamberlain, Prince Ali Bin Nayef, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, House Speaker Atef Tarawneh, Senate President Abdur-Rau’f S. Rawabdeh, Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, President of the Higher Judicial Council Hisham Tal, King’s Adviser for National Security and Director of the General Intelligence Department General Faisal Shawabkeh and Chief Islamic Justice Ahmad Hlayel, among other senior officials and officers.