The Prince and Princess of Wales made a dazzling appearance at King Charles’s state banquet for the Sultan of Oman tonight, just hours after Prince Harry said in an interview that he hoped to rebuild his relationship with his family.
The King was joined by William and Catherine, Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, along with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. Together, they welcomed Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said and his delegation to St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle.
Kate looked ethereal in a pale yellow Elie Saab gown featuring a cape detail and train. She completed the look with her much-loved Lover’s Knot tiara, diamond earrings and a bracelet that once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth.
William wore traditional white tie and the Windsor tailcoat, along with the sash of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the Lesser George, and a selection of medals and decorations.
Queen Camilla appeared regal in royal blue, complemented by a glittering selection of jewels. King Charles wore the sash of the Order of Al Said, an honour presented to him by the Sultan of Oman earlier in the day.
The 160 guests were treated to a lavish menu featuring Scottish langoustine and Cornish crab, pot-roasted Windsor pheasant with stuffed cabbage, and individual baked Alaskas served with Balmoral Plum and Windsor Estate honey ice cream.
The glittering banquet took place just hours after the King’s youngest son, Harry, said he wanted to reconcile with his family. He also denied that he was taking a “swipe” at his brother William when he remarked: “Some people don’t want it to work out.”
The Duke of Sussex, who has not spoken to William for four years, told GQ that he was grieving the “complicated relationships” he has with both the King and the Prince of Wales.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive ahead of the state banquet for the Sultan of Oman
The Princess of Wales captivates in a pale yellow gown at the Windsor Castle event
King Charles, the Sultan of Oman and Queen Camilla attend the state banquet
The Prince and Princess of Wales pose for a portrait at Windsor Castle
The Princess Royal and the Duke of Gloucester arrive ahead of the state banquet
The Sultan of Oman and King Charles share a laugh during the evening’s banquet
Pomegranates from the Windsor Castle gardens provide decoration for the state banquet
In his speech, Charles highlighted the enduring friendship between Britain and Oman as the Middle East continues to face “painful” conflict.
Against the backdrop of the ongoing focus on Harry, the King also expressed his pride that “our sons” — William and the Crown Prince of Oman — had become joint patrons of the Jewel of Arabia expedition, a cultural and environmental journey through the region last year.
“Your Majesty, there can be few happier symbols of success than a living relationship being passed from one generation to the next,” he said.
The speech came at the close of a damp but successful day in Windsor, where the Sultan arrived to begin a three-day State Visit.
Oman is regarded as one of Britain’s oldest and most trusted allies in Arabia. The British government requested the State Visit to underline the two countries’ trade, military and cultural ties at a precarious moment for the region.
Toasting his guests at the banquet, Charles said it was a ‘treasured moment to receive dear and old friends’.
‘Oman is one of Britain’s oldest allies and, after all these years, I pray, one of your closest friends,’ he said.
He said he had been ‘immensely fortunate and blessed’ to have come to know Oman well over many visits and praised both the late Sultan’s ‘inspired leadership’ and the present leader’s ‘energetic and far-sighted leadership’.
Turning to the current conflict, he said: ‘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.’
And referring to the Strait of Hormuz he said: ‘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.
‘Oman’s role across the Gulf and her ‘constructive neutrality’, as you put it, matters far beyond Hormuz, and is worthy of our utmost respect.
‘The unique and special relationship we share helps to make the world and our peoples safe.’
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The King also highlighted the environmental challenges facing both countries and the ‘promise and peril’ of AI.
He concluded: ‘Your Majesty, I hope this State Visit shows the importance the United Kingdom attaches to Oman, its monarchy and institutions, and to our friendship with you personally. ‘
King Charles poses before the state banquet for the Sultan of Oman tonight
King Charles makes a speech in which he talks about friendship during the event
Britain’s King Charles delivers a speech at the State Banquet at Windsor Castle
The King Charles III cypher imprinted into salt on the banquet table this evening
Tonight’s 50 metre long table, which runs the whole length of the room, was laid with 480 knives, 480 forks, 160 spoons and the Grand Service, commissioned by George IV, which runs to more than 4,000 silver-gilt pieces.
In a touching tribute, the centre 12-light St George and the dragon candelabra, commissioned by William IV in 1833, was decorated with pomegranates grown on a tree planted by the late Duke of Edinburgh around 50 years ago on the East Terrace.
The unseasonably warm summer has caused it to fruit so staff decided to use them as decorations, although they are not not be consumed afterwards as they are inedible.
For the first time the salt on the table has been imprinted with the King’s royal cypher.
Among the guests are athlete Mazoon Al Alawi and sailor Mohsin Al Busaidi. It is also Andy Burnham’s first state banquet as Prime Minister.
It comes after Charles rolled out a rather soggy red carpet earlier today as senior royals welcomed the Sultan – described as one of the world’s ‘most discreet billionaires’ – to the castle for his State Visit.
Tonight, the King has served up a cocktail inspired by an Omani ritual meaning ‘hospitality’.
The post-state banquet drink is based on a spiced coffee traditionally shared in Oman, with dates as a gesture of friendship, and has been ‘reimagined’ by the team at Windsor Castle.
The beverage has been adapted through a ‘distinctly British lens’, drawing on the nation’s long-standing love of tea while preserving the aromatic spices and flavours that make Kahwa so distinctive: fragrant cardamom, delicate rose, sweet dates, and gentle warming spices.
These notes have been woven together with British teas and Windsor honey for a non-alcoholic treat.
Guests were invited to choose from an Iced Earl Grey & Date, an Iced Mint & Rose, or a Warm Cardamom-Spiced Blend sweetened with Windsor Honey.
One hundred and sixty guests have been invited to dine on Scottish langoustine and Cornish crab
Cutlery on the grand table for tonight is the castle’s finest
Tonight’s flower selection included handpicked seasonal flowers from the gardens at Buckingham Palace.
During Harry’s interview today, the Duke was asked directly whether he really wanted to heal the rift with his brother and father. Harry replied: ‘Of course I do. With everything else that’s going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile. That’s the key point.’
But in remarks widely interpreted as a dig at William, he added: ‘Some people don’t want it to work out. I want it to work out.’
Hours after the interview was published, a Sussex spokesman insisted the remark was not aimed at his older brother as speculation mounted over who Harry was referring to.
He said: ‘It was absolutely not intended as a swipe at his brother or any other member of his family.
‘The comment was made in a general context and was not directed at his family in any way.’
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