King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a grand three-course state banquet at Buckingham Palace last night, honouring the Qatari royals. The menu boasted exquisite dishes such as lobster and pheasant.
The Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bin Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani are currently in the UK for a two-day state visit. The event at the Palace saw VIPs with cultural and diplomatic ties to Qatar in attendance, hosted by the Royal Family.
Buckingham Palace has revealed that guests will begin their meal with a ‘light tartlet of Cornish lobster with quails eggs and organic salad leaves’. Quail eggs have often been described as a ‘superfood’, with Healthline reporting that a single quail egg provides a significant chunk of your daily vitamin B12, selenium, riboflavin, and choline needs, along with some iron – all in a serving that contains only 14 calories.
According to WebMD, quail eggs can help balance cholesterol, as they have a high content of beneficial fatty acids that can aid heart health. They also contain large amounts of vitamin A, which can help neutralise free radicals and protect your health by boosting your immunity.
The vitamin A in quail eggs can also help prevent cataracts and other vision problems. Vitamin A also helps the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs work properly.
The main course was a ‘supreme of Windsor pheasant wrapped in savoy cabbage, roasted celeriac puree, gratinated potatoes with a soft creamy cheese from Suffolk, truffle sauce and a selection of winter vegetables’. The dessert was an ‘iced bombe with organic Samoan vanilla ice cream and Balmoral plum sorbet’.
Wine options included Chapel Down Grand Reserve 2018 Puligny-Montrachet Les Nosroyes, Domaine Genot-Boulanger 2019 Chateau Lynch Bages, Pauillac 2000 and Chateau La Tour Blanche, 1er Cru Sauternes 2001. The tables were decorated with beautiful flowers from the Windsor Home Park and the Orchard Garden at the glasshouses in Windsor.
After the banquet, the flowers were donated to Floral Angels, a charity based at the New Covent Garden Flower Market in London, which will distribute them to hospices, care homes for the elderly and shelters. The Hiraeth String Quartet, composed of talented students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, provided the evening’s music, according to the Express.
Mared Pugh-Evans, the King’s Harpist, who previously performed at His Majesty’s 70th birthday celebrations, also played during the evening. State visits are a mix of grand ceremony and practical politics, offering hospitality on a large scale to a significant international partner.
The Queen was absent from the outdoor ceremonial welcome at the Horse Guards Parade on Tuesday due to cold weather and her recovery from an illness, following doctor’s advice to rest. However, she did have lunch at the Palace with the Qatari royals, before attending a special exhibition in the Picture Gallery featuring items related to Qatar from the Royal Collection Trust and Turquoise Mountain Foundation.
Doctors advised Camilla to rest due to the lingering effects of an illness she contracted a month ago after her long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa. The Princess of Wales has also participated in the state visit, marking her first involvement since completing the chemotherapy treatment that followed her cancer diagnosis.
Following her participation in the carriage procession, she attended a private lunch at the Palace with the King and Queen. This event on Tuesday is viewed by many as her most significant return to duties yet, signalling her robust recovery.