Windsor Castle hosted last night a spectacular state banquet in honor of the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, presided by King Charles III and Queen Camilla and by the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate Middleton. The glamorous event, which could not be held at Buckingham Palace, as it is still undergoing extensive renovations, was marked by the display of the utmost royal protocol, the presence of several more members of the British royal family, and numerous diplomatic nods.
160 guests gathered in the Hall of Saint George for the gala dinner in which the Princess of Wales shone especially, opting for a flowing yellow dress by the Lebanese designer Elie Saab, as a nod to the Middle East. On her hair was the iconic Lover’s Knot tiara, Diana, Princess of Wales’s favorite, together with diamond earrings of the late Queen Elizabeth II, known as the Greville Chandelier.
Queen Camilla chose a blue dress that was complemented by a large necklace with amethysts and pearls. On her head she wore another iconic Windsor jewel: the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. This piece was Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite, whom she wore very often during her 70-year reign and immortalized by featuring it on UK banknotes and coins.
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said sat with King Charles to his left and Kate Middleton to his right. Among the other members of the royal family present at the banquet were Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Tim Laurence. The monarch’s sister wore the Meander Tiara. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were also present at the banquet. The Duchess wore the stunning Wisteria Tiara of Queen Mary, which features a large pink topaz in the center. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not invited.
A Historic Dinner at Windsor Castle
The State Banquet was a blend of British and Omani traditions, and instead of a post-dinner cocktail, a selection of teas and coffees was offered. The Sultan, who is Muslim and does not drink alcohol, took a soft drink during Charles III’s toast. The menu consisted of a crust of Scottish langoustines and Cornish crab with avocado, tomato and celery consommé, followed by a main course of Windsor pheasant braised in a casserole with spiced quince, stuffed cabbage, fondant potatoes braised in Dijon mustard sauce, and seasonal vegetables. For dessert, a Norwegian omelette with Balmoral plum and honey ice cream from the monarch’s estate.
The Sultan of Oman, beside the King and Queen of England.
In his speech, Charles III praised the Sultan for his “constructive neutrality” in the Middle East, highlighting the “noble efforts” of Oman to keep the Strait of Hormuz open during the recent conflict in the region. “I would like to especially highlight, at a moment when conflict has returned so painfully to the region, the constant commitment of Oman as a trusted interlocutor for all parties,” the king stated. He then described the Sultan, 81, and the rest of the Omani delegation as “dear and old friends,” whom he had come to know over numerous visits.
The Sultan was one of the guests at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022 and, previously, hosted Charles and Camilla in Oman on a State Visit in 2016. This trip to the United Kingdom is the first made by an Oman Sultan in the last 44 years. The last visit took place in 1983, when Elizabeth II received at Buckingham Palace the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said, the cousin of the current ruler.
Harry Wants Reconciliation
This banquet marked the most formal event organized by the Windsors since the Sussexes’ return to the United Kingdom at the end of August. And while his family entertained the Omani delegation, the first interview of Prince Harry was published, which had been recorded weeks earlier in New York. In it, the youngest son of Charles III showed once again a willingness to reconcile with his father and his brother, Prince William.
“With everything that is happening in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile. That is the key point,” said the Duke of Sussex in an interview with GQ. When asked whether his wounds could ever heal thanks to the reconciliation he desires, Harry was hopeful and spoke of “leaving the past behind.” He added that “that is something that would encourage everyone to do.”
