Oman's Sultan Haitham Arrives in UK for Historic State Visit, Greeted by King Charles at Windsor

King Charles III officially welcomed Sultan Haitham of Oman to Windsor, near London, marking the commencement of a significant three-day state visit. This occasion is the first by an Omani head of state to the UK in 44 years.

Sultan Haitham was accompanied to Windsor by Prince William, the Prince of Wales. Upon arrival, the Omani ruler received a ceremonial welcome, complete with a royal salute from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the playing of both the Omani and British national anthems.

Following the ceremony, the Sultan and the King traveled together in the Irish State Coach, participating in a carriage procession through the town to Windsor Castle, despite the rain. The route was lined with members of the armed forces. Queen Camilla traveled in the Scottish State Coach alongside Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, Shihab bin Tariq.

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, were joined in the Australian State Coach by Theyazin bin Haitham, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, and Loay bin Ghalib, Secretary General of the Diwan of the Royal Court. Other ministers were also part of the procession.

Upon reaching the castle, the King and the Sultan were scheduled to inspect the guard of honour. A delegation of Omani representatives was present to await the arrival of Sultan Haitham.

The last state visit by an Omani ruler to the UK was in 1982, when Sultan Qaboos visited Queen Elizabeth II. Sultan Haitham is set to spend the day with the King and Queen, including viewing a special exhibition of Omani items from the Royal Collection and attending a banquet at Windsor Castle on Tuesday evening.

On Wednesday, the Sultan will hold discussions with Prime Minister Andy Burnham at Downing Street. The two leaders had previously spoken in July, shortly after Mr. Burnham became Prime Minister, discussing efforts to ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier that month, Sultan Haitham also met with Keir Starmer, who was the leader of the opposition at the time, in Downing Street.

Further engagements include a banquet in the City of London on Wednesday evening and a visit to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London on Thursday, where the Sultan will observe the site's transformation into an economic center.

Major General (Retired) Richard Stanford, Chairman of the British Omani Society, highlighted the centuries-old relationship between the two countries, describing it as “unique, special and founded on mutual respect.” He noted that the current state visit underscores the importance of the relationship between the UK and Oman, as well as their respective royal families. Stanford emphasized that both nations, as maritime powers, share a distinct perspective on Gulf and global politics, rooted in a long history of connection, trade, and diplomacy.