King Charles lauds Omani peace efforts on Sultan's state visit

On Tuesday, King Charles III commended Oman's peacemaking efforts in the Middle East during Sultan Haitham bin Tariq's first state visit to the UK in nearly 50 years. The monarch acknowledged Oman's historic diplomatic, military, and royal ties at a banquet at Windsor Castle, where he praised Muscat's role in helping reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Charles specifically recognized Oman's commitment as a trusted mediator among all parties in a region plagued by conflict. The Omani ruler's visit is occurring amid intense tension in the Middle East following the US-Iran war. Sultan Haitham is set to meet British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Wednesday to discuss various priorities such as economic growth, security, defence, and education.

An agreement is expected to be signed during the meeting, focusing on increased investment in sectors like renewable energy, technology, critical minerals, space, healthcare, and financial services. The visit began with a royal welcome in Windsor, where Sultan Haitham held a private lunch with the British royal family and viewed artifacts related to Omani-UK relations at the Royal Collection.