And this evening, King Charles said his State Visit to the UK “might be seen as a homecoming,” adding, “Your many visits since then have served as a testament to the close personal ties that bind our nations and our families.

Queen Camilla is unable to attend the welcome ceremony for the Emir of Qatar’s state visit to the UK, leaving the King to host alongside the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton.

But 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 ret