The King, the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said to Windsor on the first day of his state visit to the UK. The Sultan was greeted by the monarch in the open air outside Windsor and Eton Riverside station amid autumn downpours.
The King removed his top hat to greet the Sultan, smiling widely as he shook his hand, while Kate performed a deep curtsey as they stood under the covered dais. In the pouring rain, without umbrellas, the royals and their guests stepped into ornate horse-drawn enclosed carriages for the procession through Windsor to the castle, where a ceremonial welcome was held in the quadrangle.
Carriage Procession Through Windsor
The Oxford-educated Sultan joined the King in the Irish State Coach, where they chatted side by side. Charles was seen patting down his hair after brief exposure to the drizzle. The Queen followed in the Scottish State Coach, accompanied by Oman’s deputy prime minister for defence affairs, Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said.
William and Kate travelled in 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.
Attire and Arrangements
Camilla wore a vivid red wool crepe dress and coat by Fiona Clare, a hat by Philip Treacy, and a ruby and diamond flower brooch, with the colour appearing to nod to the Omani flag. Kate’s dark green Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen coat and Juliette Botterill hat matched the theme. William had earlier travelled solo on behalf of the King to greet Oman’s ruler at one of his residences in the UK.
Kate arrived at the royal dais with the King and Queen, a change from the usual arrangements because the Sultan is not accompanied by his wife during his stay.
Historic Visit
Haitham bin Tarik Al Said’s state visit is the first by a Sultan of Oman to the UK in 44 years. The last was in 1982, when Queen Elizabeth II hosted the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the current Sultan’s cousin, at Buckingham Palace.
