The Prince and Princess of Wales took centre stage in the royal pageantry as the King and Queen welcomed the Sultan of Oman to the UK for a state visit.
William and Catherine joined Their Majesties in Windsor for the arrival of the Omani ruler, marking the beginning of a three-day visit requested by the British government. The programme will focus on trade, diplomacy, military cooperation and cultural ties between the two countries.
Despite the drizzly autumn weather, King Charles, Queen Camilla and Kate climbed the steps to the covered Royal Dais on Datchet Road.
The royal party was greeted by a royal salute from the waiting Sovereign’s Escort, while a military band performed the national anthem.
The King wore a top hat and tails, while Camilla chose a red wool crepe dress and coat by Fiona Clare, paired with a Philip Treacy hat and a ruby and diamond flower brooch. The colour appeared to echo the Omani flag, as did Kate’s dark green coat dress.
Charles removed his top hat to welcome the Sultan, smiling broadly as he shook hands with him after the Omani leader arrived.
Kate smiled and offered a deep curtsey before shaking the hand of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said during the royal welcome.
The Guard of Honour stood in two lines before the Royal Dais. It comprised around 100 guardsmen and officers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Storm Green.
Kate’s dark green coat dress appeared to echo the colours of the Omani flag
Charles, Camilla and Kate received a royal salute from the Sovereign’s Escort as a military band played the national anthem
William and Catherine attend the welcome ceremony on the Royal Dais at Datchet Road
The Prince and Princess of Wales joined the King and Queen for the ceremonial welcome of the Sultan of Oman
Kate offered a deep curtsey before shaking Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said’s hand
In a departure from the traditional arrangements, Kate waited with the King and Queen rather than accompanying William to greet the Sultan
The King wore a top hat and tails, while Camilla chose a red wool crepe dress and coat by Fiona Clare, a Philip Treacy hat and a ruby and diamond flower brooch
Charles removed his top hat and smiled broadly as he shook hands with the Sultan following the Omani ruler’s arrival
The King spoke in Arabic as he asked the visiting head of state whether he would inspect the servicemen on parade.
Charles then accompanied the senior officer and the Sultan as the foreign leader inspected the troops, walking past the first rank of soldiers and then the second line behind it.
Earlier, Prince William welcomed the Sultan on behalf of the monarch at one of the King’s private UK residences. The pair then travelled together to Windsor.
Breaking with traditional arrangements, Kate did not join William for the initial greeting. Instead, she remained alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla.
The planned adjustment was made because the Sultan is not being accompanied by his wife during his stay.
Amid the pouring rain the royals and their guests stepped into the ornate coaches – without turning to the use of umbrellas.
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The Sultan joined the King in the Irish State Coach for a horse-drawn carriage procession through the streets of Windsor to the castle, ready to attend the ceremonial welcome in the quadrangle.
Charles was seen to pat down his own hair as he sat in the carriage as the Household Cavalry readied their horses for the start of the short journey.
In the evening, His Majesty, accompanied by the Queen and Members of the Royal Family, will give a glittering State Banquet at Windsor Castle for the Sultan
A Royal Salute will be fired at Home Park in Windsor, and at the Tower of London
His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik was earlier on Tuesday greeted by Prince William on behalf of the monarch at one of his private UK residences
The state visit is a first by an Omani ruler for 44 years, the last one being hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 1982
The Sultan will later join The King and Queen, and The Prince and Princess of Wales, in a carriage procession through Windsor town to Windsor Castle
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.
The Prince and Princess of Wales 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.
Taking in Thames Street High Street, Park Street and the castle’s Cambridge Gate – with the route lined by an impressive display of all three Armed Forces – the procession entered through the George IV Gateway into the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle.
The Military Knights of Windsor will be in position at the Sovereign’s Entrance with a detachment of the Household Cavalry, along with the King’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard.
A Guard of Honour, formed by the Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards and F Company Scots Guards, with the Royal Standards of the Regiment and the Band of the Scots Guards, will be mounted in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle.
The Guard of Honour will give a Royal Salute and the regimental Band will play the Omani and British National Anthems as the carriage procession arrives.
Following a private lunch in the State Dining Room, joined by Members of The Royal Family, Their Majesties will invite the Sultan to view a special exhibition of items relating to Oman from the Royal Collection, in the Green Drawing Room.
In the evening, His Majesty, accompanied by the Queen and Members of the Royal Family, will give a glittering State Banquet at Windsor Castle for the Sultan – the highlight of which will undoubtedly be the ladies’ gowns and tiaras.
The King and His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik will deliver speeches at the beginning of the banquet.
The present Sultan acceded to the throne in 2020 following the death of his cousin, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, becoming the fifteenth ruler of the Al Bu Said dynasty which has ruled Oman since the mid-eighteenth century.
He has also been dubbed ‘one of the most discreet billionaires alive’.
The sultan is married with four children, although his wife is not accompanying him on this State Visit.
The ruling Omani family has enjoyed good relations with the British royal family and the Sultan has met the King and Queen on several occasions previously. Oman is considered one of Britain’s oldest friends in Arabia.
One of the Sultan’s main challenges is seen to be the need to oversee Oman’s transition from over-reliance on oil revenues to a diversified economy.