Royal family welcome Sultan of Oman to Windsor for historic state visit

Royal family welcome Sultan of Oman to Windsor for historic state visit Charles, Camilla, William and Kate have greeted the Sultan in the pouring rain - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in The Sultan of Oman has begun a state visit to the UK, meeting the King, the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales in Windsor. The welcome took place in the open air outside Windsor and Eton Riverside station, where the monarch greeted Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said amid the pouring rain. The King removed his top hat as he greeted his guest, shaking his hand with a wide smile, while Kate performed a deep curtsey as they stood under the covered dais. The party then stepped into ornate horse drawn enclosed carriages for the procession through the streets of Windsor to the castle, ahead of the ceremonial welcome in the quadrangle. The Oxford-educated Sultan joined the King in the Irish State Coach, where the two chatted as they sat side by side. Charles was seen to pat down his own hair after his brief exposure to the drizzle. Camilla travelled in the second carriage, the Scottish State Coach, accompanied by Oman's deputy prime minister for defence affairs Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said. William and Kate followed in the third carriage, the Australian State Coach, with the deputy prime minister for economic affairs Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said and secretary general of the diwan of the royal court Sayyid Loay bin Ghalib Al Said. Camilla wore a vivid red wool crepe dress and coat by Fiona Clare, a hat by Philip Treacy, and a ruby and diamond flower brooch, with the colour seemingly a nod to the Omani flag. Kate's dark green Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen coat and Juliette Botterill hat appeared to carry the same reference. William had earlier travelled solo, on behalf of the King, to greet Oman's ruler at one of his residences in the UK. Kate arrived at the royal dais together with the King and Queen, instead of travelling with her husband, because the Sultan is not being accompanied by his wife during his stay. The visit by Haitham bin Tarik Al Said is the first by a Sultan of Oman to the UK for 44 years. The last came in 1982, when Queen Elizabeth II hosted the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the current Sultan's cousin, at Buckingham Palace. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments