Royal news live: Emir of Qatar arrives at Sandhurst for military ceremony after star-studded state banquet
Camilla joined the banquet after it was revealed she had contracted pneumonia
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Your support makes all the difference.The Emir of Qatar has begun his final day of his two-day state visit to the UK at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, following a star-studded banquet at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night.
The emir was joined by defence secretary Defence Secretary John Healey at the academy, before he is set to return to the palace to meet the King for a formal farewell.
He will then visit 10 Downing Street for a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister and attend an evening dinner at Mansion House given by the Lord Mayor and City of London Corporation before heading to Stansted Airport
On Tuesday night, the emir was joined by the likes of David and Victoria Beckham, who attended their first state banquet at Buckingham Palace for the glittering affair in honour of the Qatari ruler.
The ex-England captain and the former Spice Girl turned fashion designer – dubbed “Posh and Becks” – were among the 170 guests in the Palace ballroom.
Royal source on Queen’s pneumonia
Speaking about the Queen’s pneumonia a royal source said: “Some days the Queen is on really good form. It’s just one of those things.
“She has lost the coughing but the lingering side of it is bouts of extreme tiredness.
“There has to be a degree of flex in the Queen’s diary at the moment.”
Duke and Duchess of Sussex foundation received 5 million dollar donation in 2023
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Foundation received a contribution of five million dollars (£4 million) last year from an unnamed donor, documents show.
According to the charity’s tax form for the year 2023, the donation was made by a person who is not named and is the largest contribution listed in the document. The form also showed that the foundation had given a 250,000 dollar (£198,000) grant to a women’s wellness centre founded by US President Joe Biden’s daughter Ashley.
According to the tax document, the charity made around 5.7 million dollars (£4.5 million) in revenue in 2023, up from just over two million dollars (£1.6 million) the year before. In 2021, its first year of operation, Archewell received 13 million dollars (£10.3 million) in contributions.
Last year, the charity distributed over 1.3 million dollars (£1 million) in grants, a slight decrease from around 1.2 million dollars (£947,000) in 2022.
The 2023 filing showed that Harry and Meghan did not take salaries but Shauna Nep, co-executive director, treasurer and secretary was paid 272,241 dollars (£215,000) and executive director and president James Holt was paid 228,500 dollars (£180,000), including a 10,000 dollar (£7,900) bonus each.
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs which is usually caused by an infection such as flu, the common cold or other viruses.
Older people, babies and people with heart or lung conditions are at risk of becoming seriously ill due to the condition.
Symptoms include a cough, shortness of breath, fever, chest pain, aches, fatigue, a loss of appetite, wheezing and feeling confused.
Dr Andrew Whittamore, clinical lead at Asthma and Lung UK, said: “A chest infection affects your lungs or airways. Symptoms include a chesty cough, wheezing or shortness of breath, a high temperature of 38C or above, and chest pains or discomfort.
“While most chest infections are not serious and last around three weeks, some can develop into more serious illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis.”
He added: “It’s important to see your GP if you think you have a chest infection, especially if you have a lung condition.
“The condition, usually caused by a bacterial infection or a virus, leads to the tissue in one or both lungs to swell or become inflamed. While mild pneumonia can be treated at home, in some cases, pneumonia can be life-threatening and require hospital treatment.”
Queen reveals she is recovering from pneumonia – what we know so far
The Queen has been urged to take more time to recover after a bout of pneumonia.
At the start of November it was announced that Camilla had been diagnosed with a chest infection and was under doctors’ supervision.
The 77-year-old was forced to withdraw from her engagements so she could rest at home. She has now revealed that her chest infection was a form of pneumonia.
It is understood Camilla’s condition was viral, not bacterial, and she no longer has pneumonia.
According to NHS.uk, most people get better in two to four weeks after a diagnosis.
But it has emerged that the Queen is suffering from post-viral fatigue and is missing the outdoor elements of the Qatari state visit after being urged by her doctors to take more time to recover.
Lady Gabriella Kingston calls for people to be warned about effects of mental health medications
Lady Gabriella Kingston has called for people to be warned about the effects of medications used to treat mental health conditions or she feared more could die.
The 43-year-old issued the warning at an inquest into her husband’s death, as the coroner ruled Thomas Kingston died from a shotgun wound after suffering an adverse effect to medication prescribed by his doctor.
In a statement read out to Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court on Tuesday by Ms Skerrett, Lady Gabriella said: “(Work) was certainly a challenge for him over the years but I highly doubt it would have led him to take his own life, and it seemed much improved.
“If anything had been troubling him, I’m positive that he would have shared that he was struggling severely.
“The fact that he took his life at the home of his beloved parents suggests the decision was the result of a sudden impulse.”
She said she believed his death was “likely provoked” by an adverse reaction to the medication he had begun, and subsequently stopped taking, in the weeks leading up to his death.
He had initially been given Sertraline – an anti-depressant – and Zopiclone, a sleeping tablet, by a GP at the Royal Mews Surgery – a practice used by royal household staff – after complaining of trouble sleeping following stress at work.
Mr Kingston complained this was not making him feel better and his doctor moved him off Sertraline to Citalopram, another selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used as an anti-depressant.
“The lack of any evidence of inclination it seems highly likely to me that he had an adverse reaction to the pills that led him to take his life,” Lady Gabriella said.
“I believe anyone taking pills such as these need to be made more aware of the side effects to prevent any future deaths. If this could happen to Tom, this could happen to anyone.”
Thomas Kingston took own life after reaction to antidepressant, inquest finds
The husband of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent’s daughter Lady Gabriella Kingston died from a shotgun wound after suffering an adverse effect to medication prescribed by his doctor, a coroner has found.
Thomas Kingston died from a head injury and a gun was found near his body on February 25 at his parents’ home in the Cotswolds.
The 45-year-old financier married Lady Gabriella at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 2019 with the Queen and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh among the guests.
At an inquest into his death held at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court on Tuesday, Lady Gabriella, 43, said people need to be warned about the effects of medications used to treat mental health conditions or more people could die.
Recording a narrative conclusion, Katy Skerrett, senior coroner for Gloucestershire, said: “Mr Kingston took his own life using a shotgun which caused a severe traumatic wound to the head.
“The evidence of his wife, family and business partner all supports his lack of suicidal intent. He was suffering adverse effects of medication he had recently been prescribed.”
Full story: Kate joins King and William to greet Emir of Qatar on state visit
The Princess of Wales made a rare public appearance as the King officially welcomed the Emir of Qatar to the UK for a two-day state visit.
Charles greeted the Gulf state ruler in Whitehall as he began a busy round of public engagements aimed at strengthening the ties between the UK and the Middle East nation.
Military pomp and pageantry was on display for the ceremonial welcome for the visiting head of state Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher.
Read the full story here:
Kate joins King and William to greet Emir of Qatar on state visit
It is only one of only a handful of official events the princess has carried out this year.
In pictures: Emir of Qatar and his wife tour Westminster Abbey
William sticks close to Kate’s side
Kate arrived at the Palace after the ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards Parade, with William sticking close to her side as they viewed the small displays of exhibits together.
The princess pointed at a gold mantel clock featuring a bronze model of a horse, which was given by Sheik Tamin to the King as the Prince of Wales in 2010.
She also peered closely at a set of photographic prints by Dutch photographer Robert Van Hilst which capture the spirit of Doha’s historic market Souq Waqif.
The princess, a keen photographer and history of art graduate, asked a question about the prints, before replying “Oh yes” as she examined them closely.
Also among the group was the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
Royal party and VIP guests have lunch in Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace
The royal party and their VIP guests had lunch in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.
Afterwards, the King led the Emir and his guests into the Picture Gallery, where Christmas trees, decked out in white lights and golden baubles, were on show high above the grand doorways.
Following behind was the Queen, in a blue tartan dress, accompanying Sheikha Jawaher.
The Princess of Wales, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, was greeted by Tim Knox, director of the Royal Collection, as they prepared to view the exhibition of items from the Royal Collection Trust and the Turquoise Mountain Foundation relating to Qatar.
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