At Last Night State Banquet, The King Opened with a Welcome in Arabic

King Charles made a heartfelt gesture at the recent state banquet at Buckingham Palace, held in honor of Qatar’s Emir, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani. On December 4th, 2024, the King surprised guests by beginning his speech in Arabic, greeting them with “Assalamu Alaykum,” and quoting the Quran, saying, “Whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity,” to emphasize shared values and the importance of working together for global betterment.

This thoughtful use of Arabic and reference to Islamic teachings showcased King Charles’s commitment to fostering diplomatic and cultural connections, clearly impressing the Emir.

The event marked the Emir’s first state visit to the United Kingdom, and King Charles stressed the special bond between the two nations. He expressed pride in the UK being Qatar’s oldest friend in the Western world, highlighting their mutual respect and enduring relationship.

The banquet was attended by notable figures, including politicians and celebrities like David Beckham.
Social media went wild over the King’s speech, with many people commenting on it.

_Instagram:_

– “God save the kng, His Majesty has demonstrated such warmth, dignity & service. A Monarch like no other” -@antonee3

– “The fact the guy looks super impressed while the King is speaking makes this so much interesting” -@harryeastwood97

– ” I don’t think His Majesty gets the recognition he deserves as a great public speaker.” -@danny_monsoon.

_Facebook:_

– “As always the Monarch provides diplomatic platform to initiate discussion regarding peace, trade and human rights among other topics.” – MacDonald Barbra.

– “Notably, King Charles surprised the Emir by quoting a verse from the Quaran, highlighting importance of humanity.” – Annirudh Chalterjee.

– “King Charles Arabic is about as good as mine.” – Anne Yellend.

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