Buckingham Palace

30th October, 2007

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia today commenced a State Visit in London to The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh.

The Prince of Wales welcomed King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on behalf of The Queen at the Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London W1.

His Majesty, accompanied by His Royal Highness, drove to Horse Guards and was met by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, accompanied by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh with The Prince of Wales, drove in a Carriage Procession to Buckingham Palace with a Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry.

Gun Salutes were fired in Green Park by The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, and at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company.

Guards of Honour were provided at Horse Guards by 1st Battalion Welsh Guards and at Buckingham Palace by Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards.

Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, The Queen’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard and a Detachment of Household Cavalry were on duty.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh gave a State Banquet this evening in honour of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at which The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke of York, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy, Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, Prince Mohammed Bin Saud Bin Khalid Al Saud and Prince Sultan Bin Fahd Bin Abdullah Al Saud were present.

The following had the honour of being invited:

Suite of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia