Kate joins Qatar state visit as Camilla says she had pneumonia- QHN

The diplomatic red carpet is being rolled out for a state visit from the Emir of Qatar, with the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales leading a royal welcome.

The visiting Qatari royals were given a parade along the Mall, with Catherine part of the carriage procession, marking another stage in her return to official duties.

The state visit, an exercise in soft power, will see the Qatari royals given a private lunch at Buckingham Palace, followed by a visit to the Houses of Parliament and a state banquet on Tuesday evening.

But there have been criticisms over Qatar’s record on LGBT rights – and a small group of protesters shouted “Qatar’s anti-gay shame” as the royal carriages went past.

In the winter sunshine, tourists held up their phones to take photos as the UK and Qatari royals went along the Mall to Buckingham Palace, with flags of both countries hung along the route.

Queen Camilla missed the outdoor parts of the welcoming ceremony, as she’s still suffering from the after effects of a chest infection, but she is taking part in events in Buckingham Palace, including the state banquet.

She told guests that her chest infection had been a form of pneumonia, which has now cleared, but she still sometimes suffers from post-viral fatigue and bouts of extreme tiredness.

Palace sources say she has recovered well, but the “episodic” fatigue has meant the Queen has had to pull out of a number of engagements over recent weeks.

State visits are a mix of elaborate ceremony and practical politics, offering hospitality on a grand scale to an important international partner.

The visit to the UK by Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani began on Monday in damp weather at Stansted airport.

But over the next two days, there will be a carefully choreographed effort by the UK government to build warm relations with Qatar, from the pageantry of marching bands to a Downing Street meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The Qatari visitors are from a Muslim country but it won’t be an alcohol-free banquet at the palace, with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks being served.

The UK Foreign Office, which advises on which countries are invited for a state visit, says Qatar is a key defence partner and that trade between the UK and the gas-rich Gulf state is worth £6.6bn per year, with £40bn of Qatari investment in the UK economy.

Qatar has been a mediator in talks over the conflict in Gaza, though the role was suspended last month.

And the country’s Emir has been a regular visitor to the UK, coming here at least eight times in the past decade. He studied at school in the UK and attended Sandhurst military academy.

Qatar has been seen as an important bridge between the West and the Middle East, hosting events such as the 2022 World Cup.

There are close military ties. The UK and Qatar have a joint RAF Typhoon squadron based at RAF Coningsby – the first joint RAF squadron since World War II, says the Foreign Office.

BBC diplomatic correspondent Caroline Hawley describes Qatar as a “small country which plays an outsized role in global affairs”.

“Thanks to its reserve of natural gas, the Gulf state is also one of the richest countries in the Middle East, with high-profile investments in the UK.

“Qatar owns Harrods, the Shard, and the luxury London hotel Claridge’s. And it has significant shares in Sainsbury’s and Heathrow Airport,” says our correspondent.

There have been protests against this week’s visit, including by the Peter Tatchell Foundation, which has criticised Qatar’s record on LGBT rights, women’s rights and the treatment of migrant workers.

Human Rights Watch has said the state visit should not ignore Qatar’s “troubling rights record”.

In response, the UK government says it regularly discusses human rights with its Qatari counterparts and is opposed to discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender.

The Qatari royals received a ceremonial reception and military inspection on Horse Guards Parade, followed by a carriage parade to Buckingham Palace and a gun salute in Green Park.

The Princess of Wales is involved in a state visit for the first time since ending the chemotherapy treatment that followed her cancer diagnosis.

She joined a private lunch at the Palace, along with the King, Queen and other senior royals.

The Qatari visitors will be brought later to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, where the Emir will speak to representatives of the House of Commons and House of Lords.

The centrepiece of such state visits is the state banquet, where the King and Emir will give speeches in front of dignitaries from both countries, in the grand setting of the Buckingham Palace ballroom.

The Princess of Wales won’t be at the banquet but it will be the first time Starmer will have been at this diplomatic showcase as prime minister.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “Our strong, historic ties with Qatar are vital to UK prosperity, growth and security. The UK government is committed to continued strong relations with Qatar to deliver partnerships of mutual value.”