King Charles III has hosted Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman on a state visit to Britain, lauding the Gulf ruler’s work to help bring peace to a volatile region. The day included formal ceremonies, among them a reception at Windsor Castle where a red-uniformed military honour guard took part.
Speaking at a state banquet on Tuesday, the sultan said his country had opted for diplomacy in a region marked by conflict. “In a region that has known too much conflict, Oman has chosen a different path, an independent path,” he said. He added that Britain had been a friend on that path and had stood alongside Oman in its work.
King Charles praises Oman’s role on Strait of Hormuz
Charles paid tribute to Muscat’s “noble efforts” to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which he described as choked. Addressing about 160 guests at the dinner, he said he wished to recognise Oman’s enduring commitment as a trusted interlocutor to all parties, at a time when conflict had returned painfully to the region.
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In a toast to the sultan, the king also praised Oman’s “constructive neutrality”, saying its role across the Gulf “matters far beyond Hormuz” and deserves the “utmost respect”.
Visit comes amid Iran war and Downing Street talks
The visit is the first state visit to Britain by an Omani sultan in 44 years and takes place amid severe turbulence in the Middle East, which the source ties to the Iran war. Oman, a key UK military ally that borders the Hormuz waterway, has acted as a mediator between the United States and Iran since the US-Israel war against Iran began in late February.
The sultan is due to hold talks on Wednesday at Downing Street with Prime Minister Andy Burnham, where security, trade and investment are expected to feature prominently. Burnham attended Tuesday’s banquet alongside the chief executives of Shell, BP and Airbus, as well as various royals and other dignitaries.
