This paper inquires into the political roles and functions of first ladies in the Middle East. It focuses on how their roles and functions change during security crises in authoritarian regimes, such as popular protests, economic crises, leadership change or the Covid-19 pandemic. In contrast to the vibrant public discussion that depicts first ladies as the symbols of the (mal)functioning of authoritarian rule, academic research on first ladies in the Middle East, and on female leaders as political and economic actors under authoritarianism more broadly, is still am under-researched field. These lacunae impact our understanding of authoritarian rule given that these female leaders have access to, and are, as I argue, part of the centers of authoritarian power together with the ruler and the politically relevant elites. This paper presents the findings of a qualitative analysis of the role of Queen Rania of Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic and how this role feeds into the neoliberal security state of King Abdullah II. It highlights how the Queen's political, social and economic activities and speeches complement the security-oriented activities by the King on the national, regional and international level during the Covid-19 pandemic as a case study.