King Charles III to Host Sultan Haitham for State Visit

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will host Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman for a state visit to the United Kingdom from October 20 to 22, 2026. The visit, centered at Windsor Castle, aims to strengthen bilateral relations and address regional security challenges in the Middle East.

The diplomatic engagement occurs as Oman continues to mediate with Iran to secure commercial shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz following military actions between the United States, Israel, and Iran in February. The visit follows unconfirmed reports that U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman over its management of ship traffic in the Strait, though the White House and U.S. Department of Defense have not officially confirmed these claims.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated the visit underscores the importance of the relationship between the two nations and a shared commitment to peace and security. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi emphasized that Oman values its longstanding partnership with the United Kingdom and seeks to deepen cooperation on regional stability.