London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton returns to public duties to host Qatar’s emir alongside Prince William, spotlighting UK-Qatar relations amid ongoing human rights controversies.
The Princess of Wales will play a crucial role in welcoming the Emir of Qatar during his state visit to the UK on Tuesday, as the British government enlists the support of its royals for the visit which is being spearheaded by a key ally of the country.
The two-day state visit marks one of the few public appearances by Kate, the Princess of Wales, since her cancer diagnosis in March, underscoring Qatar’s importance as both a major investor in the UK and a central figure in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks.
William and Kate will greet Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani in the morning, before travelling to Horse Guards Parade, where King Charles III will officially receive the emir and Sheikha Jawaher.
The two-day state visit by the Qatari will also include a trip to Westminster Abbey, a Buckingham Palace banquet, and a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
As reported by BBC, the Qatari visitors come from a Muslim country, and the banquet at the palace will include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, but not making it non-alcoholic.
Queen Camilla, suffering from a lingering chest infection, has been advised to skip the formal outdoor event at the Horse Guards Parade and the carriage ride to Buckingham Palace.
She will later attend a private lunch with the Emir and his wife and will participate in all but one of the events at the evening state banquet at Buckingham Palace, hosted in honour of the Emir.
The Qatari Investment Authority owns Harrods, the luxury retailer, and also holds large stakes in British firms like Barclays Bank and Sainsbury’s. It has invested heavily in London’s real estate, including the iconic Shard, the tallest building in western Europe.
While the emir’s lavish display raises human rights concerns, human rights advocates argue that Qatar is discriminating against women and LGBTQ+ individuals and migrant workers have not been compensated for “egregious abuses” during the preparations for the 2022 soccer World Cup.
Yasmine Ahmed, Britain’s director of Human Rights Watch said, “Hosting the royal visit without addressing these issues is tantamount to royal-washing Qatar’s troubling rights record.”
According to the UK Foreign Office, Qatar is a key defence partner, with trade between the UK and the gas-rich Gulf state worth £6.6 billion annually, along with £40 billion of Qatari investment in the Britain economy.
The state visit arrives at the end of a challenging year for Britain’s royal family.
Qatar has served as a mediator in discussions over the Gaza conflict, but its role was suspended last month.
The spokesman from the Foreign Office 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.”