Emir of Qatar and Wife in the UK

The Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned arrived in the UK on the 25th for a 2 day tour to the UK, the first since his last visit in 1985. To show that this was a rather special visit, The Emir and his wife stayed at Windsor Castle rather than the more formal Buckingham Palace.

The following day, October 26th, the ceremonial welcome took place on Horse Guards Parade. Queen Elizabeth and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh welcomed the Emir and Her Highness, accompanied by TRH the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, before Prince Philip and Sheikh Hamad viewed the customary guard of honour. A heavy scheduele started with a walk round the exhibits at the Royal Collection this was followed by a meeting with the UK’s PM David Cameron. The traditional state banquet was held that evening at Windsor, with the usual amount of stunning jewels on display by 3 royal ladies, Queen Elizabeth, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and The Princess Royal.

October 27th, was yet another busy day which started with a private tour of Westminster Abbey given by the Dean of Westminster. Then a trip to Clarence House where Sheikh Hamad and Sheika Mozah met students from His Royal Highness Prince Charles’ School of Traditional Arts. Over to BP, where Prince Andrew introduced the Emir of Qatar and Sheikha Mozah to ministers ahead of a meeting.

A visit to the Olympic Stadium was the last afternoon stop where they were shown around by Britain’s Minister for Sport and Olympics Hugh Robertson and Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority John Armitt. A banquet at the Guildhall was held in the evening hosted by The Lord Mayor and Corporation of London, and attended by TRH the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.The final day of the visit saw Queen Elizabeth II bid farewell to The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and his wife at Windsor Castle. The Emir then visited The Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst as Her Highness visited the British Library Sheikha Mozah signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ Thursday, establishing a partnership which aims to make tens of thousands of Arabian Gulf documents held by the British Library available online across the Gulf region and around the world.”

Filed under Qatar, The United Kingdom
Tagged Bilateral Relations, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Thani, Sport, State Visit, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales.