The diplomatic red carpet will be rolled out for the Emir of Qatar’s state visit, with the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales receiving a royal welcome on Tuesday morning.
But Queen Camilla still has a chest infection and will miss the start.While Catherine’s involvement in the visit to the wealthy Gulf state marks another step in her return to official duties.
The visiting Qatari royal family will be given a motorcade along The Mall, a tour of the Houses of Parliament and a banquet at Buckingham Palace, in an exercise in soft power state visits.
But Qatar’s record on LGBT rights has led to threats of protests during the visit.
Queen Camilla, who is said to have “dwindled energy reserves” after a chest infection, will miss the Horse Guards parade and outside receptions on the Mall, but will be at Buckingham Palace later in the day. Will attend events, including state banquets.
State visits are a mixture of grand ceremony and practical politics, offering large-scale hospitality to an important international partner.
Amir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Sheikha Jawahar bint Hamad bin Suhaim al-Thani’s visit to the UK began in wet weather at Stansted Airport on Monday.
But over the next two days, the UK government will make a carefully choreographed effort to warm ties with Qatar, from marching bands to a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The Qatari pilgrims hail from a Muslim country, but it will not be an alcohol-free banquet at the palace, where both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be served.
Britain’s Foreign Office, which advises on which countries are invited for official visits, says Qatar is a key defense partner and there are 6.6 flights a year between the UK and the gas-rich Gulf state. Billions of pounds are traded, of which Qatar has £40 billion. Investing in the UK economy
Qatar has continued to play a mediator role in the negotiations over the Gaza conflict, however The role was suspended last month.
And the country’s emir has been a regular visitor to the UK, visiting at least eight times in the past decade. He attended school in the United Kingdom and studied at Sandhurst Military Academy.
A peaceful protest against the visit has been called by the Peter Tatchell Foundation, which has criticized Qatar’s record on LGBT rights, women’s rights and its treatment of migrant workers.
Human Rights Watch said the official visit should not ignore Qatar’s “disturbing rights record”.
In response, the UK government says it regularly engages with its Qatari counterparts on human rights and opposes discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender.
The Qatari royal family will receive a formal welcome and military inspection, followed by a carriage parade to Buckingham Palace.
The Princess of Wales will be part of the horse-drawn procession, making her first state visit since being diagnosed with cancer and ending chemotherapy treatment.
She will join the king, queen and other members of the royal family for a private lunch at the palace.
The Qatari pilgrims will be brought to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament where the Emir will hold talks with representatives from the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The centerpiece of such official visits is the State Banquet, where the monarch and the rich will deliver speeches to dignitaries from both countries in the grand setting of Buckingham Palace’s ballroom.
The Princess of Wales will not be at the banquet but it will be Sir Kerr’s first time as Prime Minister at the diplomatic event.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “Our strong, historic relationship with Qatar is vital to the UK’s prosperity, growth and security. The UK Government is committed to continuing to have a strong relationship with Qatar as a partnership of mutual value.” “