Kate in red carpet rollout for Qatar state visit
Vocabulary: 359, Words: 825
1The diplomatic red carpet is being rolled out for a state visit by the Emir of Qatar, with the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales delivering a royal welcome on Tuesday morning.
2But Queen Camilla still has a lingering chest infection and will miss the start, while Catherine's involvement in the visit by the wealthy Gulf state marks another step in her return to official duties.
3The state visit's exercise in soft power will see the visiting Qatari royals given a carriage procession along The Mall, a visit to the Houses of Parliament and a banquet at Buckingham Palace.
4But there have been threats of protest during the visit over Qatar's record on LGBT rights.
5Crowds have begun to gather on the Mall to watch the royal carriage procession and military parade.
6Queen Camilla, who is said to have "diminished reserves of energy" after a chest infection, will miss the outdoor parts of the reception on Horse Guards Parade and the carriage ride, but will attend events in Buckingham Palace later in the day, including the state banquet.
7State visits are a mix of elaborate ceremony and practical politics, offering hospitality on a grand scale to an important international partner.
8The visit to the UK by Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani began on Monday in damp weather at Stansted airport.
9But over the next two days, there will be a carefully choreographed effort by the UK government to build warm relations with Qatar, from the pageantry of marching bands to a Downing Street meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
10The Qatari visitors are from a Muslim country but it won't be an alcohol-free banquet at the palace, with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks being served.
11The UK Foreign Office, which advises on which countries are invited for a state visit, says Qatar is a key defence partner and that trade between the UK and the gas-rich Gulf state is worth £6.6bn per year, with £40bn of Qatari investment in the UK economy.
12Qatar has been a mediator in talks over the conflict in Gaza, though the role was suspended last month.
13And the country's Emir has been a regular visitor to the UK, coming here at least eight times in the past decade. 14He studied at school in the UK and attended Sandhurst military academy.
15Qatar has been seen as an important bridge between the West and the Middle East, hosting events such as the 2022 World Cup.
16There are close military ties. 17The UK and Qatar have a joint RAF Typhoon squadron based at RAF Coningsby - the first joint RAF squadron since World War II, says the Foreign Office.
18BBC diplomatic correspondent Caroline Hawley describes Qatar as a "small country which plays an outsized role in global affairs".
19"Thanks to its reserve of natural gas, the Gulf state is also one of the richest countries in the Middle East, with high-profile investments in the UK.
20"Qatar owns Harrods, the Shard, and the luxury London hotel Claridge’s. 21And it has significant shares in Sainsbury’s and Heathrow Airport," says our correspondent.
22There have been calls for a peaceful protest against this week's visit by the Peter Tatchell Foundation, which has criticised Qatar's record on LGBT rights, women's rights and the treatment of migrant workers.
23Human Rights Watch has said the state visit should not ignore Qatar's "troubling rights record".
24In response, the UK government says it regularly discusses human rights with its Qatari counterparts and is opposed to discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender.
25The Qatari royals will receive a ceremonial reception and military inspection, followed by a carriage parade to Buckingham Palace.
26The Princess of Wales will be part of the horse-drawn procession, taking part in a state visit for the first time since ending the chemotherapy treatment that followed her cancer diagnosis.
27She will join a private lunch at the Palace, along with the King, Queen and other senior royals.
28The Qatari visitors will be brought to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, where the Emir will speak to representatives of the House of Commons and House of Lords.
29The centrepiece of such state visits is the state banquet, where the King and Emir will give speeches in front of dignitaries from both countries, in the grand setting of the Buckingham Palace ballroom.
30The Princess of Wales won't be at the banquet but it will be the first time Starmer will have been at this diplomatic showcase as prime minister.
31A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Our strong, historic ties with Qatar are vital to UK prosperity, growth and security. 32The UK government is committed to continued strong relations with Qatar to deliver partnerships of mutual value."
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from BBC