Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania left Amman on Tuesday heading to Madrid in a two-day visit to Spain and France during which they will meet the Spanish monarch Juan Carlos.

Their Majesties will head to Paris on Tuesday afternoon where King Abdullah will hold talks with President Jacque Chirac on Wednesday on the peace talks, the future of Iraq and the Jordanian- French relations.

The Sorbonne Association for foreign policy will give His Majesty the award for political courage in a big ceremony on Wednesday.

During the visit to France, the king will meet with representatives of the various economic sectors in France.

His Majesty is accompanied by minister of the Royal Court, ministers of foreign affairs, telecommunications, planning and president of the Aqaba special economic zone.

His Royal Highness Prince Faisal Ben Al Hussein was sworn in as regent.