Melania Trump welcomes Queen Rania of Jordan, heads to an all-girls school

Melania Trump, along with husband US President Donald Trump, welcomed King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan Wednesday at the White House. The first lady and Queen Rania headed to a girls-only charter school with the US education secretary.

The guests were greeted by students with bouquets of flowers. "That's so beautiful, thank you," Melania said as she hugged one of the students named Danielle Chatman.

The FLOTUS, Queen Rania and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos settled in a discussion with the school’s principal, three students, a parent, an art teacher and a science teacher. "As an all-girls school, you all represent what we work so hard to build for our girls," Deborah Lockhart, the chief executive officer of Excel Academy Public Charter School, said.

Lockhart discussed the school's social services, extracurricular and special needs programmes, saying they believe that educating a girl means educating a family and a community. CNN reports that the school was adorned with colourful, student-designed feminist posters that read “Sisterhood is not a destination, but a journey,” "I am woman, hear me roar” and "Women are Intellectual Queens.”

The pair also bonded with a 5th grade science class and an 8th grade art class, where pupils were working on Van Gogh-inspired watercolour paintings of daffodils. The FLOTUS and the monarch also spoke with girls in lab coats and safety goggles as they dissect owl pellets.

The queen advocates for education, youth and community empowerment. Her top advocacy priority are education and children, having launched several key initiatives such as the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development, the Queen Rania Teacher Academy, Jordan River Foundation and Madrasati, which bridges individuals, organisations and private companies. It also helps improve the physical and educational learning environments of Jordan's most neglected public schools. Melania, on the other hand, said she would focus on youth cyber bullying, as well as women's and children's issues.

Queen Rania previously bonded with four US first ladies since her husband came to power in 1999. The queen took to Instagram earlier this year to express her fondness for the former FLOTUS Michelle Obama as her husband, former POTUS Barack Obama, left office. "Exceptional first lady- looking forward to the next chapter in your life and the inspiration you will bring to girls' education. Watch out world, you haven't seen the best of this woman yet!" the queen wrote on social media.