Yahoo News King Charles and Queen Camilla Host Glittering State Banquet for Qatari Royals
As a child, the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was educated at schools in Britain and attended Sandhurst Military Academy. And this evening, King Charles said his State Visit to the UK “might be seen as a homecoming,” adding, “Your many visits since then have served as a testament to the close personal ties that bind our nations and our families.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a state banquet for the Qatari royals at Buckingham Palace this evening. Female royals wore tiaras and gowns, with Queen Camilla choosing a red velvet dress by Fiona Clare and a diamond kokoshnik tiara and diamond necklace which belonged to Queen Elizabeth.
“Our unique, shared history stretches back over 160 years,” King Charles said in his speech before dinner. “The United Kingdom is proud to be Qatar’s oldest friend in the Western World.” The Emir responded by saying it was “a wonderful privilege to be here.” He also described the late Queen Elizabeth as “cherished.”
Guests at the banquet included Brits who have links with Qatar through culture or business ventures. David and Victoria Beckham were attending their first State Banquet following David’s role as an ambassador for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Also attending was Princess Diana’s stepbrother Henry Legge, son of her stepmother Raine Spencer. Henry’s wife, Cressida Hogg, is Chair of BAE Systems, which has significant business interests with Qatar. She took part in the royal procession alongside the royals and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Guests dined on tartlet of Cornish lobster, followed by supreme of Windsor pheasant and ice cream including Balmoral plum sorbet. As well as wine, a mocktail was also served. The table was decorated with seasonal flowers and foliage from Windsor.
Queen Camilla was at the banquet despite pulling out of some other elements of the State Visit due to a viral chest infection which she told guests today was pneumonia. The Princess of Wales was not at the banquet but performed a key role welcoming the Emir and his wife at their hotel ahead of the official military welcome today.
This trip comes at a time when the UK is in ongoing talks to secure a trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council, of which Qatar is a member. However, the State Visit has also attracted the attention of human rights organizations, with a protest held on the Mall today by the Peter Tatchell Foundation over Qatar’s treatment of LGBT people, women and migrants.
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