22 JULY 2004

Angelina Jolie received a warm royal welcome from Queen Noor of Jordan this week, when she paid a visit to Amman. The Hollywood star was in the Middle Eastern country to help promote the annual Arab Children's Congress.

The Jordanian royal gave her Tinseltown guest a friendly embrace when the event got underway in the Jordanian capital. Angelina was also photographed chatting with the many youngsters who had come along to take part. Now in its 24th year, the congress brings together children from all over the Arab world to help foster tolerance and solidarity.

It was not Angelina's first time in Jordan; she has previously visited to help publicise the plight of refugees. The Oscar-winning actress, who also works as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations, made the journey to Ruweished in the east of the country last December. After meeting the mostly-Palestinian people who had fled their war-torn homelands, she commended them for their bravery.

Despite being a poverty-challenged state itself, Jordan has provided refuge for many thousands of people who have been forced to abandon Palestine in recent years.