King Charles and Queen Camilla set to host second state visit of the year amid cancer battle
King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to end one of the toughest and most challenging years of their lives with a touch of regal glamour, as the pair prepare to host their second state visit of the year in December. The King, 75 and Queen, 77 are due to host the Amir of Qatar and his first wife and consort on December 3 and December 4, Buckingham Palace has announced - less than a year on since the monarch revealed to the world he was battling cancer.
Although details of the visit by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani have yet to be released, we do know that it will likely incorporate a lavish banquet, as is customary for visiting heads of state. Typically regarded as a key staple of any foreign leader’s visit, the banquets are typically one of the few white tie events attended by the royals each year - with many of the royal women dusting off their tiaras for the occasion.
The state visit will also mark a poignant close to what is easily one of the most gruelling years the royal family has faced in recent times, with 2024 having seen both King Charles and Princess Kate diagnosed with undisclosed forms of cancer, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York facing skin cancer just one year after beating breast cancer - and Princess Anne having suffered a serious horse riding accident earlier this Summer.
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The timing of the visit will also come just one month after Charles and Camilla arrive back in the UK from a tour to Australia and Samoa, with the King having postponed his cancer treatment to make the trip overseas - albeit accompanied by two of his physicians.
While it is currently unknown which members of the royal family will be on hand to support the King and Queen during the Amir’s visit, in previous years both Prince William and Kate Middleton have typically taken on key roles, including meeting guests upon arrival and accompanying them to Horse Guards Parade, which is close to Buckingham Palace.
Earlier this year, the royals hosted Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan during their formal visit to the UK back in June, but sadly at this time Princess Kate was too unwell to step in to help, although William was on hand to see to it that things ran smoothly in her stead.
Thankfully, Kate’s recovery seems to have been going well, with the Princess having stepped out on October 10 with husband Prince William to visit the families of the three children killed in a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift themed event in Southport, as well as praising first responders who had bravely attended the scene. It is believed that she is hoping to also attend the Remembrance Sunday commemorations on Nov. 10.
