Queen Rania of Jordan attended SXSW London.
Queen Rania of Jordan urged audiences to embrace community, discipline, humility and trust.
The address also highlighted the power of collective action.
Queen Rania of Jordan attended SXSW London.
Queen Rania of Jordan has captivated audiences around the world. On 3 June 2026, she attended SXSW London and delivered a powerful address on her life lessons. FACT secured a seat at the event, and she shared her thoughts on resilience, leadership and the challenges facing the modern world.
Queen Rania has been Queen of Jordan since 1999, following the accession of her husband, King Abdullah II. Internationally recognised for her humanitarian work, she has championed education, women’s empowerment, refugee rights and cross-cultural understanding for more than two decades. She is one of the most influential voices in the Middle East and regularly speaks on global issues ranging from social justice to education.
At SXSW London, Queen Rania of Jordan urged audiences to embrace community, discipline, humility and trust. She explained: “Jordan is home to millions of refugees. Few countries bear a comparable burden. Yet despite regional challenges and limited natural resources, our nation’s compassion for the displaced is unwavering.”
Rather than turning to division or cynicism during difficult times, she argued that progress comes from remaining flexible and open-minded. She also highlighted the importance of discomfort in order to achieve growth. She shared: “Lifting burdens demands individual fortitude, which brings us to our second solution: discipline.”
“I’ll be honest. Nine times out of ten, I have to drag myself to the gym, but I’m always happy to have gone. Like every worthwhile endeavour, getting started is often the hardest part. Nobody begins by lifting the heaviest weight in the room.”
“It’s one of the few places where people choose discomfort in pursuit of growth, where they push themselves to do more for longer than they thought possible. It’s a place where I’m constantly reminded that progress begins where ease ends. So, if we adopt that mindset and, if you’ll forgive the pun, exercise it elsewhere in our lives, we may be able to develop the strength we need to lift the weight on our collective shoulders.”
Throughout her speech, Queen Rania of Jordan highlighted the power of collective action and the pressures of modern technology. She concluded: “In challenging times, it is tempting to turn to a strongman or, when confronted with brazen unfairness, to abandon the conviction that justice is a universal value at all. But what we need is not bravado or cynicism, but flexibility. The ability to hold fast to your destination while being open about the route.”
Where: Across East London
When: 1 to 6 June 2026
Price: Tickets range from £600 to £1,300
Contact: https://sxswlondon.com