Breaking News: King Charles impresses guests by speaking Arabic during speech at state banquet….Read More

King Charles is hosting a glittering state banquet at the Palace this evening for the Qatari State Visit

King Charles hailed the “profound, personal and historic” ties between Qatar and the UK as he welcomed the Amir and Sheikha for a two-day state visit.

Delivering a speech at tonight’s lavish state banquet at Buckingham Palace, the 76-year-old monarch spoke warmly of the ties between the two nations, namely their collaborative efforts on climate change and biodiversity loss, science and technology, education and defence.

Addressing the 150 guests – which included Posh and Becks – the King opened by speaking in Arabic. He said “Assalamu-Alaykum”, which means peace be upon you.

Charles described the Amir’s visit as a “homecoming”, noting the years he spent studying in the UK at Sherborne, harrow and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

“This evening I am delighted to mark the renewal of our enduring friendship,” he said before saying in Arabic: “Welcome back to the United Kingdom, your second home.”

Charles spoke of the “special bond” between the UK and Qatar, which he said was “founded on mutual respect which was stood the test of time”.

His Majesty paid tribute to the Amir’s “tireless mediation efforts over the past year in pursuit of peace” and said: “We stand with you in our commitment to a world where peace and justice prevail over division.”

The King said he “took some comfort” knowing that our Governments are collaborating to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.

“I am greatly encouraged to know that we are embarking on a partnership that will, over the next 20 years, place our nations jointly at the forefront of clean energy technology development,” he said.

Charles also hailed the two nation’s work on science and technology, education and defence.

Before proposing a toast, the King said: “I am filled with optimism about the possibilities that lie ahead for our two great nations.

Whatever new challenges and opportunities emerge, I am confident that we will meet them together.”

The Amir responded with a short speech where he spoke of the “personal connections” between their families and paid tribute to the “cherished” Queen Elizabeth.

He spoke fondly of the two nations and concluded his speech by saying: “And let us pray for the continued health of His Majesty, and to the strength of our alliance and friendship.”

Guests tucked into a three-course banquet, featuring Cornish Lobster, Windsor Pheasant and iced bombe with a Balmoral Plum Sorbet.

They washed the food down with five different wines, which included award-winning English sparking wine from Chapel Down, a winery based in Tenterden, Kent.

The beautifully adorned tables in the Palace ballroom featured seasonal flowers including foliage from the Windsor Home Park and the Orchard Garden at the glasshouses in Windsor.

On the conclusion of the Banquet, the flowers are donated to Floral Angels, a charity the Queen is patron of that delivers the blooms to hospices, elderly care homes, shelters and other beneficiaries near its base in New Covent Graden Flower Market.

Guests were also treated to musical performances by the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the King’s Harpist, Mared Pugh-Evans.

They played a selection of traditional classic music, as well as covers from musicals Chicago, West Side Story and even a song from the Disney film Moana.