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.
Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation received $5million donation in 2023
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Foundation received a contribution of $5million (£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 (£198,000) grant to a women’s wellness centre founded by US President Joe Biden’s daughter Ashley.
The centre, called the Women’s Wellness Space and based in Philadelphia, aims to empower women who have experienced trauma to help them “break from the cycle of poverty” and support each other, according to its website.
The Archewell Foundation, launched by Harry and Meghan, is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to “show up, do good”, according to its website.
Its annual impact report for 2023 to 2024, published on its website, outlines work the foundation has conducted this year, including the public launch of its Parents’ Network to support those whose children have experienced online harm.
It also details the expansion of the Welcome Project, which brings together recently resettled women through social activities such as cooking, swimming or hiking.
In pictures: Charles, Camilla, Kate and William with Emir of Qatar and his wife at Buckingham Palace
Princess of Wales’s attendance at Horse Guards Parade ceremony marks start of busier week for her
The Princess of Wales’s attendance at the Horse Guards Parade ceremony marks the start of a busier week for her.
Kate will be hosting her annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on Friday, when she is expected to be joined by her children and husband for the event.
The princess has been gradually returning to royal duties after she announced in September she had completed her chemotherapy treatment and her focus was “doing what I can to stay cancer free”.
Her participation in the ceremony on Horse Guards Parade is one of her few official appearances this year.
She will travel with her husband in the carriage procession and the couple will join Charles and Camilla as they host a lunch for their guests Sheikh Tamim and Sheikha Jawaher.
However, Kate will not attend the state banquet hosted by the King, although William will be a guest.
Life Guards seen leaving Buckingham Palace following ceremonial welcome
Queen no longer coughing but still extremely tired, according to royal source
Camilla no longer has a cough but is still extremely tired at times, according to a royal source.
They 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.”
Charles travels in Irish State Coach with Emir of Qatar and his wife Sheikha Jawaher
Kate pays tribute to the late Queen in burgundy ensemble for Qatar state visit
The Princess of Wales paid homage to Queen Elizabeth II whilst sporting the colour of the season at Qatar’s state visit to Buckingham Palace.
The princess wore a monochromatic burgundy ensemble, with a long line coat by British designer Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen (who was also the mind behind her wedding dress) with leather gloves, pointed boots and a Chanel bag.
Kate finished the look with a tribute to the late Queen, by wearing a custom burgundy teardrop beret adorned with a bow by Sahar Millinery. The millinery is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, paying homage to the late Queen’s taste.
Kate’s hat was not the only tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. The princess also paid tribute to the late Queen by wearing a pair of her Bahrain pearl drop earrings, which Kate previously wore for the Trooping the Colour parade in celebration of the late Queen’s birthday on June 8th 2019.
The diamond-encrusted earrings are reportedly crafted from a shell containing seven pearls, which was a wedding gift to Elizabeth II from the ruler of Bahrain in 1947.
Alongside her Bahrain earrings, Kate paired the pearls with another piece passed down by the late Queen: a four-strand pearl choker, which she previously wore to Prince Philip’s funeral in April, 2021.
This striking pearl and diamond choker was commissioned to be created using a collection of cultured pearls gifted to the late monarch by the Japanese government. The piece was part of the Elizabeth II’s regular jewellery collection in the Eighties and Nineties, and was also worn by the late Princess Diana.
Queen’s chest infection ‘was form of pneumonia’
The Queen has told guests at the state visit that her chest infection was a form of pneumonia.
Camilla is suffering from post-viral fatigue and is missing the outdoor elements of the Qatari visit after being urged by her doctors to take more time to recover.
It is understood Camilla’s condition was viral, not bacterial, and she no longer has pneumonia.
The Queen missed the outdoor ceremonial welcome on a chilly Horse Guards Parade on Tuesday.
Instead, she arrived at Buckingham Palace shortly beforehand, giving a smile as she stepped from her car at the Grand Entrance.
Camilla, 77, waited for the Emir of Qatar and his wife inside, in the warm surroundings of the Grand Hall.
She contracted her chest infection after a long haul trip to Australia and Samoa and has pulled out a series of engagements since then, including the the Royal Variety Performance, the Gladiator II premiere and the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph.
It is understood the Queen was not taken to hospital with pneumonia, but is now facing bouts of extreme tiredness.
In pictures: King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery perform gun salute in St James’s Park
Pictured: Prince and Princess of Wales arriving at Buckingham Palace
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