The Prince and Princess of Wales made a striking appearance at King Charles’s state banquet for the Sultan of Oman, held just hours after Prince Harry said in an interview that he wants to repair relations with his family.
Charles hosted Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said and his delegation in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle, joined by William and Catherine, Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, along with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Catherine drew attention in a vibrant yellow Elie Saab gown, completing her look with the Lovers Knot Tiara. Queen Camilla opted for an elegant royal blue dress for the formal occasion.
William wore a Windsor tailcoat decorated with a row of miniature medals as he joined the royal family for the evening celebration.
The 160 guests were served a menu featuring Scottish langoustine and Cornish crab, pot-roasted Windsor pheasant with stuffed cabbage, and individual baked Alaskas with Balmoral Plum and Windsor Estate honey ice cream.
A selection of wines accompanied the feast, while Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said was set to raise his glass with a soft drink.
The banquet took place only hours after Harry said he hoped to reconcile with his family, while rejecting the suggestion that he had been directing a ‘swipe’ at his brother William when he remarked: ‘Some people don’t want it to work out.’
The Duke of Sussex, who has not spoken to William for four years, told GQ that he is mourning his ‘complicated relationships’ with both the King and the Prince of Wales.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive ahead of the state banquet for the Sultan of Oman
The Princess of Wales makes a dazzling entrance in a yellow gown for the evening event
King Charles, the Sultan of Oman and Queen Camilla attend the state banquet
The Prince and Princess of Wales pose for a portrait at Windsor Castle
The Princess Royal and the Duke of Gloucester arrive ahead of the banquet
Pomegranates from the Windsor Castle gardens feature in the banquet decorations
The 50-metre table stretched the full length of the room and was set with 480 knives, 480 forks and 160 spoons. It also featured the Grand Service, commissioned by George IV and comprising more than 4,000 silver-gilt pieces.
The centrepiece was the 12-light St George and the dragon candelabra, commissioned by William IV in 1833. In a poignant tribute, it was decorated with pomegranates from a tree planted by the late Duke of Edinburgh on the East Terrace around 50 years ago.
The unusually warm summer had encouraged the tree to fruit, prompting staff to use the pomegranates as decorations. They will not be eaten, however, because they are inedible.
For the first time, the salt placed on the table carried the King’s royal cypher.
KEEP READING: 96-Year-Old Widow Murdered While Baking Cookies, Fraudster Thought She Was Living Too Long – NewsFinale
Among those attending were athlete Mazoon Al Alawi and sailor Mohsin Al Busaidi. It was also Andy Burnham’s first state banquet as Prime Minister.
The dinner followed Charles’s earlier welcome for the Sultan, described as one of the world’s ‘most discreet billionaires’, after senior royals rolled out a rain-soaked red carpet for his State Visit to Windsor Castle.
Tonight, the King has served to serve up a cocktail inspired by an Omani ritual meaning ‘hospitality’.
The post-state banquet drink is based on a spiced coffee traditionally shared in Oman, with dates as a gesture of friendship, and has been ‘reimagined’ by the team at Windsor Castle.
The beverage has been adapted through a ‘distinctly British lens’, drawing on the nation’s long-standing love of tea while preserving the aromatic spices and flavours that make Kahwa so distinctive: fragrant cardamom, delicate rose, sweet dates, and gentle warming spices.
These notes have been woven together with British teas and Windsor honey for a non-alcoholic treat.
Guests will be invited to choose from an Iced Earl Grey & Date, an Iced Mint & Rose, or a Warm Cardamom-Spiced Blend sweetened with Windsor Honey.
King Charles poses before the state banquet for the Sultan of Oman tonight
The King Charles III cypher imprinted into salt on the banquet table this evening
One hundred and sixty guests have been invited to dine on Scottish langoustine and Cornish crab
Cutlery on the grand table for tonight is the castle’s finest
Tonight’s flower selection will include handpicked seasonal flowers from the gardens at Buckingham Palace.
During Harry’s interview today, the Duke was asked directly whether he really wanted to heal the rift with his brother and father. Harry replied: ‘Of course I do. With everything else that’s going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile. That’s the key point.’
But in remarks widely interpreted as a dig at William, he added: ‘Some people don’t want it to work out. I want it to work out.’
Hours after the interview was published, a Sussex spokesman insisted the remark was not aimed at his older brother as speculation mounted over who Harry was referring to.
He said: ‘It was absolutely not intended as a swipe at his brother or any other member of his family.
‘The comment was made in a general context and was not directed at his family in any way.’
READ MORE: Kate beams in green as she joins William, Charles and Camilla in hosting the Sultan of Oman on State Visit to the UK