Breaking News: King Charles and Camilla serve superfood at banquet that ‘boosts vision and lowers cholesterol…..See More

King Charles and Queen Camilla will host the state banquet for the Emir of Qatar at Buckingham Palace tonight, with a three-course dinner being served to guests

King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a lavish three-course state banquet at Buckingham Palace in honour of the Qatari royals last night. The menu featured fine delicacies such as lobster and pheasant.

The Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bin Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani are currently in the UK for a two-day state visit.

The soiree at the Palace saw VIPs with cultural and diplomatic ties to Qatar in attendance, hosted by the Royal Family.

Buckingham Palace has revealed that guests will start their meal with a ‘light tartlet of Cornish lobster with quails eggs and organic salad leaves’.

Quail eggs have often been described as a ‘superfood’, with Healthline reporting that a single quail egg provides a significant chunk of your daily vitamin B12, selenium, riboflavin, and choline needs, along with some iron — all in a serving that contains only 14 calories.

According to WebMD, quail eggs can help balance cholesterol, as they have a high content of beneficial fatty acids that can aid heart health. They also contain large amounts of vitamin A, which can help neutralize free radicals and protect your health by boosting your immunity.

The vitamin A in quail eggs can also help prevent cataracts and other vision problems. Vitamin A also helps the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs work properly.

This will be followed by a main course of ‘supreme of Windsor pheasant wrapped in savoy cabbage, roasted celeriac puree, gratinated potatoes with a soft creamy cheese from Suffolk, truffle sauce and a selection of winter vegetables’.

The dessert course will feature an ‘iced bombe with organic Samoan vanilla ice cream and Balmoral plum sorbet’. For those choosing to pair their meals with wine, the list includes Chapel Down Grand Reserve 2018 Puligny-Montrachet Les Nosroyes, Domaine Genot-Boulanger 2019 Chateau Lynch Bages, Pauillac 2000 and Chateau La Tour Blanche, 1er Cru Sauternes 2001.

The tables were adorned with beautiful flowers as centrepieces, sourced from the Windsor Home Park and the Orchard Garden at the glasshouses in Windsor.

Following the banquet, the flowers were gifted to Floral Angels, a charity based at the New Covent Garden Flower Market in London, which will then distribute them to hospices, care homes for the elderly and shelters.

The Hiraeth String Quartet, made up of talented students from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, provided the evening’s musical entertainment, reports
Mared Pugh-Evans, the King’s Harpist, who previously performed at His Majesty’s 70th birthday celebrations, also performed during the evening.

State visits are a blend of grand ceremony and practical politics, extending hospitality on a large scale to a significant international partner.

Due to cold weather and her recovery from an illness, The Queen was absent from the outdoor ceremonial welcome at the Horse Guards Parade on Tuesday, following doctor’s advice to rest.

However, she did have lunch at the Palace with the Qatari royals, before attending a special exhibition in the Picture Gallery featuring items related to Qatar from the Royal Collection Trust and Turquoise Mountain Foundation.

Doctors advised Camilla to rest due to the lingering effects of an illness she contracted a month ago after her long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa.

The Princess of Wales has also participated in the state visit, marking her first involvement since completing the chemotherapy treatment that followed her cancer diagnosis.

Following her participation in the carriage procession, she attended a private lunch at the Palace with the King and Queen. This event on Tuesday is viewed by many as her most significant return to duties yet, signalling her robust recovery.