King, Queen, William and Kate welcome Sultan of Oman for state visit
The King, the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales have welcomed the Sultan of Oman to a rainy Windsor for his state visit to the UK.
Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said was greeted by the monarch in the open air outside Windsor and Eton Riverside station amid autumn downpours. The King took off his top hat to greet the Sultan, giving him a wide smile as he shook his hand, while Kate performed a deep curtsey as they stood under the covered dais. In the pouring rain, without turning to the use of umbrellas, the royals and their guests stepped into the ornate horse drawn enclosed carriages for the procession through the streets of Windsor to the castle, ready to attend the ceremonial welcome in the quadrangle. The Oxford-educated Sultan joined the King in the Irish State Coach where they chatted as they sat side by side. Charles was seen to pat down his own hair after his brief exposure to the drizzle. The Queen followed in the second carriage – the Scottish State Coach – accompanied by Oman’s deputy prime minister for defence affairs Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said. William and Kate were in the third carriage – the Australian State Coach – with the deputy prime minister for economic affairs Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said and secretary general of the diwan of the royal court Sayyid Loay bin Ghalib Al Said. Camilla was dressed in a vivid red wool crepe dress and coat by Fiona Clare, hat by Philip Treacy and ruby and diamond flower brooch – with the colour seemingly a nod to the Omani flag, as was Kate’s dark green Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen coat and Juliette Botterill hat. William had earlier travelled solo on behalf of the King to greet Oman’s ruler at one of his residences in the UK. Kate arrived at the royal dais together with the King and Queen – in a change to the usual arrangements because the Sultan is not being accompanied by his wife during his stay. Haitham bin Tarik Al Said’s state visit is the first by a Sultan of Oman to the UK for 44 years. The last was in 1982 when Queen Elizabeth II hosted the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said – the current Sultan’s cousin – at Buckingham Palace. On Tuesday evening, the King, Queen, William and Kate will entertain the Sultan at a glittering banquet in Windsor Castle’s vast St George’s Hall. Working members of the royal family will be out in force for the grand evening affair. The event is the first incoming state visit since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to the UK, but Harry and Meghan, who are not working royals, do not take part in official royal engagements. It also marks Andy Burnham’s first state banquet as Prime Minister, meaning he will be expected to be decked out in white tie and tails and seated next to key guests and close to the King during the celebration. On Wednesday, the Sultan will hold talks with Mr Burnham in Downing Street, against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Sultan last visited the King in the summer of 2025 for tea and a private meeting at Windsor Castle.
Published: by Radio NewsHub