State Visit of the Emir of Qatar: December 3-4, 2024

[Blog Real]

The Amir of the State of Qatar will pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom as the guest of His Majesty The King Charles III from Tuesday 3rd December to Wednesday 4th December 2024.
The Emir of Qatar will be accompanied by Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1844682192967938321

 

[Mirabel]

State visits are always interesting.
Wonder which members of the RF will be in attendance?

 

[TLLK]

State visits are always interesting.
Wonder which members of the RF will be in attendance?

This is what I anticipate based on the recent incoming State Visits. First that Prince William and perhaps Catherine will be present at any arrival ceremony to accompany the Amir and his wife to Horse Guards Parade Grounds where they'll meet King Charles and Queen Camilla. There will be a luncheon at BP in which I'd expect the Princess Royal, the Edinburghs and possibly the Gloucesters to be there as well.
I'd expect a similar line up from the BRF would be at the State Dinner too.

 

[Alison H]

Given the situation in the Middle East, and also the hopes of securing a trade deal between the UK and the Gulf Co-operation Council, I would think we'd see all the senior royals involved.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

State visits are always interesting.
Wonder which members of the RF will be in attendance?

The British Royal Family have always been close to the Gulf-royals… I expect everyone who is available will attend.

The King and Queen, The Prince and (if she feels well enough) Princess of Wales, Princess Anne and Tim Laurence, The Edinburgh’s, The Gloucester’s, and if he feels up to it The Duke of Kent (who was the trade envoy for many years before Prince Andrew took that role)

 

[Alison H]

From Hello!:

On the first day of their visit, Princess Kate and Prince William will be on hand to greet the pair at their residence, on behalf of the monarch. They will then travel with Their Highnesses to Horse Guards Parade, where The Amir and Sheikha Jawaher will receive a Ceremonial Welcome.

Afterwards, they will join Charles, Camilla, Kate and William in a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace where they will be met by a second Guard of Honour formed of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards with the Band of the Irish Guards.

Later on, they will view an exhibition in the Picture Gallery of items from the Royal Collection Trust and Turquoise Mountain Foundation relating to Qatar, before travelling to Westminster Abbey. The Amir also will travel to the Palace of Westminster where he will be greeted on arrival by Black Rod, the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord Speaker.

In the evening, Charles, Camilla and several members of the royal family will give a glittering state banquet at Buckingham Palace, with both the monarch and The Amir set to give speeches at the start of the banquet. It's understood that Kate will not attend.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, The Amir will visit the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where the likes of Prince William and Prince Harry completed their military training. He will then visit No. 10 Downing Street for a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister.

 

[muriel]

The schedule for the state visit next week

https://twitter.com/x/status/1861213454574457106

 

[An Ard Ri]

I'm hoping that the Princess of Wales will be well enough to attend the State Gala!

 

[muriel]

I'm hoping that the Princess of Wales will be well enough to attend the State Gala!

It appears to have been briefed that the Princess will not be attending the state banquet.

 

[doro]

It appears to have been briefed that the Princess will not be attending the state banquet.

Let's wait, if her health permits..

 

[tommy100]

Queen to miss start of Qatari state visit

A Palace source says the infection Queen Camilla has had in recent weeks is lingering, leaving her with diminished reserves of energy.

www.bbc.co.uk

Queen to miss ceremonial welcome during Qatar state visit after chest infection

Doctors urge Her Majesty to take time to fully recover after she became unwell following a long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa

www.telegraph.co.uk

The Queen has had to pull out of some of the State Visit events, while it has also been announced the Princess of Wales will take part in more of the programme than was announced...but still not the State Banquet.

Camilla will now not attend the welcome at Horseguards and will take a break at the State Banquet while the guests are greeted in a receiving line.

Catherine was always going to attend the welcome ceremony but will now also attend lunch afterwards at BP, and the review of items of the Royal Collection.

 

[muriel]

Queen to miss start of Qatari state visit

A Palace source says the infection Queen Camilla has had in recent weeks is lingering, leaving her with diminished reserves of energy.

www.bbc.co.uk

Queen to miss ceremonial welcome during Qatar state visit after chest infection

Doctors urge Her Majesty to take time to fully recover after she became unwell following a long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa

www.telegraph.co.uk

The Queen has had to pull out of some of the State Visit events, while it has also been announced the Princess of Wales will take part in more of the programme than was announced...but still not the State Banquet.

Camilla will now not attend the welcome at Horseguards and will take a break at the State Banquet while the guests are greeted in a receiving line.

Catherine was always going to attend the welcome ceremony but will now also attend lunch afterwards at BP, and the review of items of the Royal Collection.

I am sorry to hear that the Queen has still not recovered. It is going to be a cold day in London today, and I can see why she may want to avoid being in windswept Horse Guards Parade for the welcome ceremony, followed by a very cold carriage ride up the Mall.

 

[Alison H]

I hope Camilla's OK. This chest infection seems to be lingering on. But I can see that standing out in the cold wouldn't be a good idea.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I hope Camilla's OK. This chest infection seems to be lingering on. But I can see that standing out in the cold wouldn't be a good idea.

Yes it seems to a persistent chest infection and totally understandable that she has pull out of some of the State Visit events.

 

[Blog Real]

Live - The Royal Family Welcomes Emir of Qatar:

Photos:

Princess of Wales returns to official duties after cancer treatment

Kate and her husband Prince William welcomed Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher, on behalf of the King in London today.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Live: State Banquet

 

[iceflower]

Galleries of today, December 3:


** rex gallery **

** gettyimages: GBR: The Amir Of The State Of Qatar State Visit To The United Kingdom - Day One **

 

[An Ard Ri]

Here's a video from the Welcome Ceremony earlier

The Royal Collection

 

[Somebody]

How lovely to see the prince and princess of Wales welcome the emir and his first wife. They are close in age:
Tamim: 3 June 1980
Catherine: 9 January 1982
William: 21 June 1982
Jawaher: 1984

 

[JR76]

Does anyone know who the lady is that Prince William escorted in the Royal procession?

 

[Blog Real]

Photos state banquet:

David and Victoria Beckham attend King's banquet for the Emir of Qatar

King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a dazzling reception at Buckingham Palace in honour of the Qatari royals - after they arrived in London for a two-day state visit.

www.dailymail.co.uk

https://twitter.com/x/status/1864052381639684180

 

[Mbruno]

Photos state banquet:

David and Victoria Beckham attend King's banquet for the Emir of Qatar

King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a dazzling reception at Buckingham Palace in honour of the Qatari royals - after they arrived in London for a two-day state visit.

www.dailymail.co.uk

https://twitter.com/x/status/1864052381639684180

If the Duchess of Edinburgh was in attendance with her husband, why was the Princess Royal given higher precedence in the seating?

EDIT: The correct precedence was observed in the procession before they entered the banquet hall, but then it looks like Anne and Sophie switched places, which is very odd.

 

[Stefan]

Anne and Sophie are both wearing the Kings order together with the one of the late Queen. also Camilla is wearing both today.-

Does anyone know who the lady is that Prince William escorted in the Royal procession?

She was also seated next to him at the Head table.

 

[sophie25]

If the Duchess of Edinburgh was in attendance with her husband, why was the Princess Royal given higher precedence in the seating?

EDIT: The correct precedence was observed in the procession before they entered the banquet hall, but then it looks like Anne and Sophie switched places, which is very odd.

I was thinking exactly the same thing, the Duchess of Edinburgh takes precedence over the Princess Royal when she attends events with her husband. Sophie should have been at the top table as she was the second most important lady attending after the Queen.

 

[tommy100]

Maybe, just maybe Charles is quite happy, from time to time, for his sister - whom he is by all accounts close to and who has been a working royal for decades longer than Sophie and is a Princess in her own right - to take precedence. TBH Anne's precedence often seems to change IMO - for a lot of the late Queen's funeral events she was in position after Charles and Camilla suggesting birth order was observed, which I guess would make sense given it was their mothers funeral.

Given the succession law has now changed and Charlotte is unlikely to ever have to take lower precedence than Louis, I think personally that Anne should take precedence after Charles anyway.

What seems to have happened is a mix of both - official precedence observed for the procession, then Charles' eldest sibling given "the prime spot".

More likely though - maybe Anne has better connections to the Qataris at the top table, maybe Charles was thinking they could talk horses all night.

Love seeing the royal ladies in their RFOs and wearing both the current King's and the late Queen's.

Interesting as well that we seem to have reverted to usual tiaras all round (bar Camilla).

 

[sophie25]

It's a pity that Princess Alexandra was unable to attend. It would have been amazing to have seen her in 3 RFO's, the only royal lady in the RFO of George VI!!!

 

[Nico]

Anne and Sophie are both wearing the Kings order together with the one of the late Queen. also Camilla is wearing both today.-

So much for the moaners all around ah !

 

[duke of poliganc]

Is the lady accompanying the prince of wales the dowager Duchess of Westminster or the viscountess Hood as reported?

 

[tommy100]

It definitely isn't the Dowager Duchess of Westminster from what I can see.

I so hope Alexandra has still been given Charles RFO so at least she has three from - one from every reign.

 

[kbart]

The Court Circular says that Viscount Hood (Lord in Waiting) met the Qatari visitors at the airport yesterday so it is possible that, as mentioned, the woman is indeed his wife (Flora) Viscountess Hood, who, wikipedia says, is a first cousin of actor Hugh Grant!

 

[An Ard Ri]

The The Emir and Sheikh were given a Tour of Westminster Abbey, the Sheikh in particular seemed to be engrossed by the decoration and monuments in the Abbey.

The State Gala last night