King Charles lauds Oman's role in keeping Strait of Hormuz open during Windsor banquet

King Charles praised Oman’s "noble efforts" to keep the Strait of Hormuz open while hosting Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said at a state banquet in Windsor Castle. The Sultan arrived as a key Middle‑Eastern partner of the UK, and the red carpet was rolled out for the Omani ruler. The banquet was attended by King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Catherine, Princess Anne, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Princess Royal, totaling 160 guests. The King delivered his speech in English with Arabic quotes, commending Oman's diplomatic mediation with Iran to find common ground. He highlighted a joint expedition project involving Prince William and the Sultan’s son Sayyid Theyazin as a symbol of inter‑generational success. The dinner featured pheasant with spiced quince, Cornish crab, Scottish langoustine, and a non‑alcoholic spiced coffee drink for Muslim guests. Prime Minister Andy Burnham sat beside Omani novelist Jokha Alharthi. The banquet took place in St George’s Hall, with five glasses per setting and salt imprinted with the King’s cypher. The event follows US and Israel strikes on Iran in February that killed Iran’s supreme leader and led to the effective closure of the Strait. During the visit the Sultan’s delegation will meet UK business representatives to discuss trade and military links. ## Context The Strait of Hormuz carries a large share of the world’s oil, making its openness vital for global markets. Oman has a history of acting as a neutral mediator in regional disputes, and strong UK‑Oman ties help support stability in the area.