Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman attended a formal dinner at Windsor Castle this evening at the invitation of King Charles III of Britain. This event was held on the occasion of the Sultan's official visit to Britain and was attended by Queen Camilla.
Welcome by the King of Britain
Before the dinner began, the Sultan of Oman, the King of Britain, and the Queen greeted the guests present at the dinner. The ceremony started with a speech by King Charles III, in which he referred to the importance of friendly and historic meetings between the two countries.
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King Charles expressed in his speech: "It is always a valuable moment to receive such old and dear friends in a special meeting like this. Oman is one of Britain's oldest allies, and after all these years, I hope it will also be one of your closest friends." He referred to the history of relations between the two countries and noted that Omani sailors traded in the Indian Ocean before the formation of Britain, and this friendship began at sea.
Emphasis on the Relations of the Two Countries
The King of Britain continued his speech by referring to the long-standing relations between the two countries and said: "Our friendship began in the seventeenth century as maritime partners, continued in the eighteenth century as treaty partners, in the nineteenth century as strategic partners, and in the twentieth century as brothers in the battlefield. Now in the twenty-first century, we are united through diplomacy, defense, trade, and mutual trust."
He also appreciated Sultan Haitham's efforts in modernizing Oman and strengthening government institutions with regard to Vision 2040, stating: "Under your visionary leadership, the importance of skills and education has become central to the development of your country, and the youth of Oman are considered the driving force of your future."
King Charles further referred to Oman's role as a credible mediator in the region and praised the country's efforts in maintaining one of the world's most important shipping routes. He stated that these efforts benefit the international community and especially the most vulnerable individuals.
At the end of his speech, the King of Britain emphasized the importance of future cooperation between the two countries and said: "We do not know what challenges our successors will face, but they will need reliable friends and allies who work together to defend peace and international order."
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