Royals roll out red carpet for visiting Sultan
The UK royal family hosted the Sultan of Oman for a state visit aimed at strengthening strategic and diplomatic ties. The visit includes high-level political discussions regarding Middle Eastern security and regional tensions.
Why it matters
State visits serve as critical diplomatic tools for maintaining alliances and managing geopolitical stability in volatile regions like the Middle East.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Catherine was part of the royal welcoming party for the Oman state visit
Royal correspondent Published 26 minutes ago The King and Queen, along with the Prince and Princess of Wales, were part of a colourful ceremonial welcome for the Sultan of Oman as his state visit to the UK begins.
The red carpet was rolled out in Windsor for the ruler of Oman, which is an important strategic partner in the Middle East against the backdrop of the conflict with Iran.
It has been seen as a diplomatic bridge between the West and Iran and Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said will be given the full soft power treatment from his royal hosts.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham will join the Omani visitors at a spectacular state banquet on Tuesday evening, ahead of political discussions at Downing Street on Wednesday.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in