Royal family welcome Sultan of Oman to Windsor for historic state visit
Royal family welcome Sultan of Oman to Windsor for historic state visit
Anna Loren Tue, October 20, 2026 at 12:30 PM UTC
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Charles, Camilla, William and Kate have greeted the Sultan in the pouring rain
The Sultan of Oman has begun a state visit to the UK, meeting the King, the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales in Windsor.
The welcome took place in the open air outside Windsor and Eton Riverside station, where the monarch greeted Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said amid the pouring rain.
The King removed his top hat as he greeted his guest, shaking his hand with a wide smile, while Kate performed a deep curtsey as they stood under the covered dais.
The party then stepped into ornate horse drawn enclosed carriages for the procession through the streets of Windsor to the castle, ahead of the ceremonial welcome in the quadrangle.
The Oxford-educated Sultan joined the King in the Irish State Coach, where the two chatted as they sat side by side.
The Sultan of Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik al Said, and King Charles III review the guard of honour during the ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle (PA)
The Sultan, Charles and Camilla watch the guard of honour marching past (Reuters)
Charles was seen to pat down his own hair after his brief exposure to the drizzle.
Camilla travelled in the second carriage, the Scottish State Coach, accompanied by Oman's deputy prime minister for defence affairs Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said.
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William and Kate followed in the third carriage, the Australian State Coach, with the deputy prime minister for economic affairs Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said and secretary general of the diwan of the royal court Sayyid Loay bin Ghalib Al Said.
Kate wore a Juliette Botterill hat and a coat made by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen (Getty)
Kate curtseys while greeting the Sultan (Reuters)
Camilla wore a vivid red wool crepe dress and coat by Fiona Clare, a hat by Philip Treacy, and a ruby and diamond flower brooch, with the colour seemingly a nod to the Omani flag.
Kate's dark green Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen coat and Juliette Botterill hat appeared to carry the same reference.
William had earlier travelled solo, on behalf of the King, to greet Oman's ruler at one of his residences in the UK.
Charles and the Sultan enter a coach (AP)
From left: H.H. Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, The Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, H.H. Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, King Charles III, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Queen Camilla and Prince William, Prince of Wales in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle during the ceremonial welcome (PA)
Kate arrived at the royal dais together with the King and Queen, instead of travelling with her husband, because the Sultan is not being accompanied by his wife during his stay.
The visit by Haitham bin Tarik Al Said is the first by a Sultan of Oman to the UK for 44 years.
The last came in 1982, when Queen Elizabeth II hosted the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the current Sultan's cousin, at Buckingham Palace.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
