The Prince and Princess of Wales joined King Charles and Queen Camilla at a state banquet for the Sultan of Oman at Windsor Castle, hours after the Duke of Sussex said he wanted to reconcile with his father and brother.
William and Catherine were among the senior royals welcoming Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said and his retinue to St George’s Hall during the first day of his three-day State Visit.
The Princess of Wales wore a pale yellow Elie Saab gown with a cape detail and train. She completed the look with the Lover’s Knot tiara, diamond earrings and a bracelet once owned by the late Queen Elizabeth.
William attended in white tie and a Windsor tailcoat, wearing the sash of the Order of the Garter, the Lesser George and other medals and decorations.
Queen Camilla chose a purple chiffon dress by Fiona Clare, while the King wore the sash of the Order of Al Said, presented to him by the Sultan earlier in the day.
In a speech, Charles spoke of the longstanding relationship between Britain and Oman, as well as the country’s role in the Middle East during a period of conflict.
He praised Oman’s “enduring commitment as a trusted interlocutor to all parties” and its efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, describing the country’s “constructive neutrality” as a quality worthy of “our utmost respect”.
The King also referred to a cultural and environmental expedition undertaken in the region last year, for which William and the Crown Prince of Oman became joint patrons.
“Your Majesty, there can be few happier symbols of success than a living relationship being passed from one generation to the next,” Charles told the Sultan.
He described the banquet as “a treasured moment to receive dear and old friends” and said the visit demonstrated the importance Britain attached to Oman, its monarchy and its institutions.
State banquet at Windsor Castle
Some 160 guests were served Scottish langoustine and Cornish crab, pot-roasted Windsor pheasant with stuffed cabbage, and individual baked Alaskas with Balmoral plum and Windsor Estate honey ice cream.
The 50-metre table was laid with the Grand Service, commissioned by George IV and comprising more than 4,000 silver-gilt pieces. It was set with 480 knives, 480 forks and 160 spoons.
Pomegranates grown on a tree planted by the late Duke of Edinburgh around 50 years ago were used to decorate the central candelabra. Staff said the fruit was inedible and would not be eaten.
For the first time, the salt on the table was imprinted with the King’s royal cypher. Flowers included seasonal blooms picked from the gardens at Buckingham Palace.
After dinner, guests could choose from non-alcoholic drinks inspired by kahwa, an Omani spiced coffee traditionally served with dates. The options included iced Earl Grey and date, iced mint and rose, and a warm cardamom blend sweetened with Windsor honey.
The banquet followed Harry’s interview with GQ, in which he said he was grieving his “complicated relationships” with Charles and William, from whom he has not spoken for four years.
Asked whether he wanted to heal the family rift, the Duke said: “Of course I do. With everything else that’s going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile. That’s the key point.”
He added: “Some people don’t want it to work out. I want it to work out.” The remark was widely interpreted as a reference to William, although a Sussex spokesman later said it was “absolutely not intended as a swipe at his brother or any other member of his family”.
