If there are events that exude elegance within the British monarchy, without a doubt, state banquets are at the top of the list.
Recently, Buckingham Palace dressed up to welcome the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his first wife, Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani.
The couple arrived on Tuesday and were welcomed with open arms by Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton.
However, what everyone was looking forward to the most was, of course, the state banquet.
Details of the State Banquet for the Emir of Qatar
After several months of preparations, Buckingham Palace reopened its doors to the world with a pomposity worthy of a fairy tale.
Through social media, it did not take long to delight followers with images of the ballroom, where the banquet was held.
The tables were adorned with gold cutlery, impeccable white tablecloths and elaborate flower centerpieces that took anyone’s breath away.
Finishing touches and final checks ahead of this evening’s State Banquet… 🍴✨#StateVisit pic.twitter.com/69FlelwHVD
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) December 3, 2024
Most notably, these stunning floral decorations will not stay at the palace; they will be donated the following day to nursing homes, orphanages and shelters thanks to the charity Floral Angels, in which Queen Camilla is heavily involved.
Among the illustrious attendees were Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Duchess of Gloucester, as well as the Prince of Wales, who attended without Kate.
Also shining at the soirée were the iconic David and Victoria Beckham, who, as expected, showed up in impeccable style: he in a smart formal suit, and she in a long round-necked dress that she accessorized with a gold clutch and matching sandals.
This was the first time the Beckhams attended a state banquet, which, on this occasion, brought together 180 guests. The former footballer also has a special connection to Qatar, as he was an ambassador for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
King Charles and Queen Camilla ensured everything was perfect, overseeing every detail. The couple even took a moment to tour the ballroom, which has been the setting for such events since 1914.
A Menu of Luxury
The Royal Chef is in charge of designing the menus for these gala dinners, which usually consist of four courses: two savory dishes, pudding and dessert.
On this occasion, attendees delighted their palates with a Cornish lobster and quail egg tartlet as a starter, followed by a Windsor pheasant supreme wrapped in Savoy cabbage, accompanied by roasted celeriac purée and potatoes au gratin with a soft, creamy Suffolk cheese, all bathed in truffle sauce and served with winter vegetables.
For dessert, an ice bomb was offered, an irresistible combo of organic Samoan vanilla ice cream and Balmoral plum sorbet.
The Royal Cellars secretary was also in charge of selecting the perfect pairings, presented in six glasses, and non-alcoholic cocktails made with pomegranate, ginger and black lime were also offered, for those who prefer non-alcoholic options.
This was the second state banquet that the King and Queen have held in 2024, a complicated year for the royals marked by King Charles’ cancer and Kate Middleton’s cancer.
Undoubtedly, these events are not only a platform for diplomacy, but also a showcase of British style and tradition at its finest.