Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his wife will touch down in the UK at the start of December for a trip hosted by the King and Queen.
The Princess of Wales will play an important role during next week’s State Visit from the Emir and Sheikha Jawaher. Photo: Getty
Much to the delight of royal fans, Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Princess of Wales will be taking part in the Emir of Qatar’s state visit to the UK next week. It will be the first engagement of its kind in which Kate has participated since her cancer diagnosis, and a highlight of the slow but steady return to public life she has been conducting since September.
‘Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales will greet the Emir and Sheikha Jawaher at their residence, on behalf of The King on Tuesday morning,’ Buckingham Palace said in a statement, before elaborating on their role in proceedings. On 3 December, William and Kate will welcome Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani (the first of his three wives) to Kensington Palace, before travelling with the couple to Horse Guards Parade, where they will receive a ceremonial welcome before meeting the King and Queen.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his wife attended the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in 2023. Photo: Getty
It’s tradition for the heir to the throne and their wife to welcome dignitaries conducting a state visit and travel with them to Horseguards Parade for an official welcome from the monarch. William and Kate have performed this role ever since he became Prince of Wales – but the Princess’ ill health meant she was unable to take part in a visit from the Emperor and Empress of Japan in June, when she was still receiving chemotherapy treatment.
After they are formally introduced to Charles and Camilla, the Emir and his wife will be treated to a royal salute and a rendition of the Qatari national anthem. Then, Tamim and Jawaher will join both the King, Queen, William and Kate in a carriage procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where they will be met by a second guard of honour formed of First Battalion Welsh Guards with the Band of the Irish Guards.
Kate – pictured here during the a state visit from President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa in 2022 – will not be attending the Qataris’ banquet. Photo: Getty
It’s understood that Kate will take part in a lunch held at the Palace, but will not be attending a glittering state banquet that evening. That’s to be expected; the Princess will no doubt want to conserve her energy for later that same week, when she will be host her annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey. Nonetheless, a royal source told MailOnline that Kate’s active participation in the Qataris’ state visit – her most significant royal undertaking for months—surely spells ‘good news’ for her recovery.
It’s no wonder the Princess has apparently made this most important occasion a priority, given that Tamim and Jawaher have such a special relationship with the UK. The Emir is something of an anglophile, and was educated at both Sherborne and Harrow before attending Sandhurst, like so many British royals. So enamoured is Tamim of Britain that he once put in a £4 billion bid to buy Manchester United and has made huge investments in London, including in the Shard, Harrods, and the InterContinental London Park Lane. He also owns a string of properties in the UK – including two houses on Cornwall Terrace overlooking Regent’s Park, otherwise known as the most expensive row of houses in the world.
The Sheikh has more than one London residence to choose from, however: he also owns Dudley House on Park Lane, which is one of the country’s most expensive homes, rumoured to be worth £200 million. Tamim was said to have refurbished the 44,000-square-foot property (which features 17 bedrooms, a ballroom, and a picture gallery) over six years, and once hosted Queen Elizabeth II there. Indeed, she seemed to approve of his renovation, reportedly telling Tamim: ‘This place makes Buckingham Palace look rather dull.’
The Sheikh hosted Queen Elizabeth II at Dudley House, his home on Park Lane, in 2014. Photo: Getty
No doubt the Emir and his wife will feel very at home during their two-day visit, which is said to include a tour of a special exhibition relating to Qatar in the Buckingham Palace Picture Gallery, a trip to Tamim’s alma mater, Sandhurst, and a visit to Westminster Abbey. The ruling Emir will, at some point during his whistle-stop tour, meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for talks at Downing Street before his departure.
Hopefully, Tamim and Jawaher will be able to find time to catch up with the King and Queen amid this packed schedule of engagements. The two couples know one another well: King Charles has visited Qatar eight times as the Prince of Wales, and met the Sheikh at the Cop28 summit in Dubai last year. Tamim and Jawaher also attended the King’s coronation at Westminster Abbey, as well as the late Queen’s funeral. One thing is for certain, however – this upcoming state visit will be an historic one for the royal family.
Originally published in Tatler.com
