King Charles lauded Oman’s “noble efforts” to maintain access through the Strait of Hormuz during a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Tuesday evening, where he hosted Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
Addressing the Sultan in St George’s Hall, the King spoke of the conflict engulfing the region. “If I may, Your Majesty, I would especially like to recognise, at a time when conflict has returned so painfully to the region, Oman’s enduring commitment as a trusted interlocutor to all parties,” he said.
He added: “Oman’s noble efforts in trying to keep open one of the world’s most important shipping routes have been of great service to the whole international community, and particularly to the most vulnerable of those affected.”
The monarch punctuated his address with three brief passages in Arabic, warmly characterising Oman as “one of Britain’s oldest allies” and praising its “constructive neutrality” across the Gulf.
Sultan Haitham is set to meet Prime Minister Andy Burnham at Downing Street today, with the ongoing Middle East conflict expected to dominate their discussions.
It will mark Mr Burnham’s first diplomatic engagement linked to a state visit since taking office. The Prime Minister attended Tuesday evening’s banquet, where he was seated between Omani novelist Jokha Alharthi and Sultan Mohammed Al Nomani, an Omani military general.
His wife Marie-France van Heel was placed alongside Sir Tristram Hunt, director of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The Strait of Hormuz, which lies in territorial waters shared by Oman and Iran, represents one of the globe’s most strategically significant maritime corridors.
Oman’s longstanding policy of constructive neutrality has positioned the sultanate as a key mediator in a region beset by escalating tensions, a role the King singled out for particular recognition during his speech.
Eight working royals attended the banquet, with the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester joining the King and Queen at the 47-metre table stretching the full length of St George’s Hall.
The Princess of Wales wore a flowing pale yellow Elie Saab gown featuring cape detailing, paired with the Lover’s Knot tiara.
She was spotted complimenting the King’s artistic talents to members of the Omani delegation during a viewing of Royal Collection items connected to Oman. “These are painted by His Majesty. He’s a very good water colourist himself,” she told them.
The King wore the Order of Al Said, which the Sultan had bestowed upon him earlier that day, while Queen Camilla chose the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, a piece long favoured by Elizabeth II, complemented by a striking blue gown.
The King revealed two of his own watercolour landscapes as part of a specially curated exhibition, marking the first occasion since his accession that his paintings had been included in such a display. He recalled his attempts to capture Oman’s “breathtaking landscape” across numerous visits to the country.
Charles III began studying Arabic in 2013, acknowledging at the time that the language “goes in one ear and out the other,” though aides confirmed he had pursued private tuition for several months. His command of the language allows him to read the Quran in its original text and interpret Arabic script at mosques and Islamic art museums.
The King also highlighted the bond between the next generation, noting he was “especially delighted” that their sons and “successors” had served as joint patrons of the Jewel of Arabia expedition, which retraced British explorer Bertram Thomas’s 1928 coastal route across Oman.
Guests dined on Scottish langoustines, Cornish crab and Windsor pheasant, rounded off with baked Alaska accompanied by ice cream made with honey from the Windsor estate.
In a departure from the customary post-banquet cocktail, an adapted version of Kahwa, a traditional Omani spiced coffee, was offered, blending with what organisers described as “the very British tradition” of drinking tea. Options included iced Earl Grey with date, iced mint and rose, or a warm cardamom-spiced blend sweetened with honey. The Sultan, who abstains from alcohol in accordance with his Islamic faith, raised his toasts with a soft drink.
Among the notable guests were the chief executives of Shell, BP and Airbus, as well as chef and food blogger Dina Macki, who sat beside Prince William.
Concerns over policing costs for Windsor state visits have persisted, with the Government having refused to reimburse Thames Valley Police’s £900,000 security bill for Donald Trump’s state visit last year.
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