King Charles hosted King Abdullah II of Jordan at Windsor Castle, showcasing a traditional display of British pomp and pageantry.
The event took place in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle, where a Guard of Honour was formed by the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, accompanied by the Regimental Band.
King Charles arrived at Windsor from Buckingham Palace, standing solo at the Sovereign’s Entrance as the British national anthem was played.
King Abdullah, slightly delayed by traffic, arrived shortly after, driving through the George IV gate before joining Charles on the platform for a royal salute, followed by Jordan’s national anthem.
Major Edward Emlyn-Williams, Captain of the Guard, approached the platform and addressed King Abdullah in Arabic, inviting him to inspect the soldiers. The monarchs then proceeded to review the Guard of Honour, with the soldiers donning their winter order greatcoats and bearskin hats.
Following the inspection, they returned to the platform to observe the soldiers as they marched past. The two kings were seen engaging warmly, chatting with officials before heading inside the castle for tea.
This meeting marks a significant moment as King Abdullah celebrates his silver jubilee this year. To commemorate the occasion, King Charles presented him with a silver beaker engraved with his and Queen Camilla’s cyphers.
The two monarchs share a long-standing friendship, with Charles having visited Jordan five times since 1965. Their most recent interactions include King Abdullah’s visit to Buckingham Palace in 2022 and phone conversations in February 2024 and October 2023.
The British and Jordanian royal families enjoy a close relationship. During King Abdullah’s last official visit to the UK in 2022, Queen Camilla also hosted Queen Rania at a reception aimed at raising awareness about violence against women and girls.
Additionally, the Jordanian royal couple attended the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in 2023, further solidifying their strong ties.