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The Prince and Princess of Wales have greeted the Emir of Qatar and his wife as they begin their state visit to the UK.
Kate and William were pictured smiling as they met Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his wife Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani at the Emir’s private residence on Tuesday.
The royal party will now make their way to Horse Guards Parade by car for the traditional ceremonial welcome where they will be met by the King, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other senior government figures.
The greeting marks Kate’s first appearance at a state visit since her cancer diagnosis.
But missing will be Queen Camilla who, on Monday evening, pulled out of the official open-air greeting due to lingering effects of a recent viral chest infection.
It comes as Kate is set to deliver a heartful Christmas message about the importance of love at her upcoming annual carol service.
Kate has written a letter, featured with the order of service for the event on Friday, telling the 1,600 Westminster Abbey carol goers: “Love is the light that can shine bright, even in our darkest times.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer (centre), Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper arrive for a Ceremonial Welcome for the Emir of Qatar (Henry Nicholls/PA Wire)
Athena Stavrou3 December 2024 12:17
The Prince and Princess of Wales have greeted the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his wife Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani at the Emir’s private residence on behalf of the King.
It was Kate’s first appearance at a state visit since her cancer diagnosis.
She was pictured smiling in a fitted burgundy coat and hat alongside William and the VIP guests inside the residence in London.
Kate, wearing a pearl necklace and with her hair in a low chignon, was seen in conversation with Sheikha Jawaher.
The royal party will make their way to Horse Guards Parade by car for the traditional ceremonial welcome where they will be met by the King, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other senior government figures.
Athena Stavrou3 December 2024 12:08
The Prince and Princess of Wales greet the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (right) and his wife Sheikha Jawaher (left) (Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
The Princess of Wales (right) and Sheikha Jawaher, the wife of Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, speak before the ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade (Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
The Prince of Wales (left) greets the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in London on behalf of the King for the Emir’s state visit to the UK (Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
Tara Cobham3 December 2024 11:57
Tara Cobham3 December 2024 11:55
Police officers on The Mall in London during the state visit to the UK of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his wife Sheikha Jawaher (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
Union flags and flags of Qatar line The Mall in London on Tuesday (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
Tara Cobham3 December 2024 11:34
No major changes are expected to her diary for the rest of the week, but the Queen has been advised by her medical team to take each day as it comes.
Doctors have urged Camilla to take time to rest and recover fully because of the lingering effects of the illness, contracted a month ago following her long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa, which include diminished reserves of energy.
Tara Cobham3 December 2024 10:45
Princess of Wales adds final touches to Christmas carol service plans
The Princess of Wales is adding the final touches to her Christmas carol service plans ahead of the royal festive event. Princess Kate will return to Westminster Abbey to host her fourth annual Together at Christmas carol service on Friday (6 December). Westminster Abbey will be filled with 1,600 people who have supported others in their communities, whether on a personal level with friends and family, through their work, or as they selflessly give up their time through volunteering. Kate will attend the service after completing her chemotherapy treatment following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. The Princess shared an update on final plans for the service on her and Prince William’s official Instagram account on Monday (2 December).
Tara Cobham3 December 2024 10:00
The Queen has had to pull out of the welcome for the Emir of Qatar’s two-day state visit to the UK that is being hosted by the King, while the Princess of Wales has stepped in.
Charles will welcome Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher, during a ceremony of pomp and pageantry staged in Whitehall on Tuesday.
But missing will be Camilla who, on Monday evening, pulled out of the official open-air greeting on Horse Guards Parade and a carriage ride back to Buckingham Palace, due to lingering effects of a recent viral chest infection.
She will join the royal party later for a private lunch with the Emir and his wife and will also take part in all but one of the elements of the evening state banquet at Buckingham Palace, staged in honour of the Emir.
Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales will take part in the ceremony on Horse Guards Parade, one of the few official appearances by Kate during a year in which she has been successfully treated for cancer.
The princess has been gradually returning to royal duties after she announced in September she had completed her chemotherapy treatment and her focus was “doing what I can to stay cancer free”.
She will travel with her husband in the carriage procession and the couple will join Charles and Camilla as they host a lunch for their guests Sheikh Tamim and Sheikha Jawaher.
However, Kate will not attend the state banquet hosted by the King, although William will be a guest.
Doctors have urged Camilla, 77, to take time to rest and recover fully because of the lingering effects of the illness, contracted a month ago following her long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa, which include diminished reserves of energy.
The Queen has had to pull out of the welcome for the Emir of Qatar’s two-day state visit to the UK that is being hosted by the King, while the Princess of Wales has stepped in (WPA Rota)
Tara Cobham3 December 2024 09:06
The event will be broadcast as part of the programme Royal Carols: Together At Christmas, screened on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve, and it will feature three films about the stories of people and organisations who have inspired, counselled and comforted others in their times of need.
Alongside the event at Westminster Abbey, 15 community carol services will take place around the UK in the coming days, to provide a moment for people to come together and celebrate community work during the festive season.
Hosted by Lord Lieutenants, and supported by William and Kate’s Royal Foundation, these events will be tailored to their local communities and include elements of the Westminster Abbey service – including Kate’s letter.
Athena Stavrou2 December 2024 08:01
King Charles’s decades’ old celebration of traditional architecture, arts and handicrafts is being embraced by the Arab world, now keen to promote their own arts and crafts in similar fashion.
This week an agreement effectively uniting the commitment of two kingdoms was signed in Riyadh. The co-operation agreement commits The King’s Foundation to participate in Saudi Arabia’s Year of Handicrafts 2025 initiative through the Foundation’s School of Traditional Arts.
The signing ceremony on Wednesday was attended by Prince Bader bin Farhan, minister of culture, at the Saudi International Handicrafts Week Exhibition in Riyadh. Khaled Omar Azzam, director of the traditional arts school at The King’s Foundation, and Hamed Fayez, deputy minister of culture, also attended the signing of the agreement, which aims to revive and promote handicrafts in Saudi Arabia throughout 2025.
Read the full article here:
Athena Stavrou2 December 2024 07:00