David Beckham attends his first state banquet at Buckingham Palace for Qatari visit
David and Victoria Beckham were among guests at a Buckingham Palace banquet to celebrate the state visit of Qatar on Tuesday night, joining the King and other dignitaries to provide the highest level of welcome the country can offer.
The Beckhams, whose attendance was kept secret until the event began, joined the King, Queen and Prince of Wales for the event, which was held for the Emir of Qatar, his wife, and their delegation.
They were among guests who heard the King welcome Qatari guests in Arabic, saying “Assalamu-Alaykum” (Peace be upon you) and quoting from the Koran.
Calling the ties between the two countries “profound, personal and historic”, he referred to Qatar’s role in mediating between Israel and Hamas to express the UK’s “deepest gratitude for your tireless mediation efforts over the past year in pursuit of peace, against the most unbearable heartache and suffering”.
Beckham, the former England footballer, had attended several royal events in previous years, including his investiture with an OBE in 2017 and the Queen’s Young Leader event in 2018.
But this was his first invitation to a state banquet, and comes in a year in which he held a meeting with the King about their shared passion of beekeeping, having been made an ambassador for The King’s Foundation, and helped Prince William raise funds for the London Air Ambulance.
In June during an event at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the King’s Foundation, he was teased by Sir Rod Stewart for his lack of knighthood, joking: “I’m also wonderfully honoured to be a knight. David, yours is coming soon.”
In 2022, Beckham was heavily criticised for becoming an ambassador for football’s World Cup in Qatar, with questions over the country’s ban on same-sex relationships and alleged treatment of migrant workers.
During the state banquet, he was placed between Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of football team Paris Saint-Germain, and Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition.
His wife, as is customary at state banquets, was placed on the opposite side of the table.
The King, naturally, was at the head of the table alongside the Queen, who did not attend every event of the day while suffering the effects of a chest infection, which she disclosed had turned into pneumonia.
The Queen wore a red velvet evening dress by Fiona Clare, the diamond Kokoshnik tiara and a necklace that once belonged to the late Queen and the Family Order of both Elizabeth II and Charles III.
The Duchess of Edinburgh wore a Suzannah dress with diamond and aquamarine tiara, which is part of the Royal Collection.
The Princess Royal was placed next to the Emir, while Prince William sat next to Sheikha Jawaher, the Emir’s first wife.
Other guests included the wider Royal family – the Edinburghs and Gloucesters – Sir Keir and Lady Starmer, and Qatari politicians.
The Princess of Wales was missing, still working to a reduced programme after her chemotherapy.
Guests dined on a tartlet of Cornish lobster with quails eggs and organic salad leaves, followed by a supreme of Windsor pheasant wrapped in Savoy cabbage, roasted celeriac purée, gratinated potatoes with soft cheese from Suffolk, truffle sauce and a selection of winter vegetables.
It was finished with an iced bombe with organic Samoan vanilla ice cream and Balmoral plum sorbet.
Those drinking alcohol had five wines to choose from, while those who abstained were offered a non-alcoholic “mocktail” created especially for the banquet: smoked pomegranate and ginger with a black lime garnish.
Music, played by the Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra, included classical favourites, songs from the shows, and films including La La Land and Moana.
Seasonal flowers, in shades of red in a nod to the Qatari flag, were surrounded by foliage from Windsor Home Park, and will be donated to hospices, old people’s homes and shelters afterwards.
The Emir of Qatar used his own speech to pay tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, and say: “Let us pray for the continued health of His Majesty, and to the strength of our alliance and friendship.”
‘This evening is a homecoming’
In the King’s speech, he told the Emir: “In many ways, this evening may be seen as a homecoming”, given the Emir studied at Sherborne, Harrow and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
He added: “This evening, I am delighted to mark the renewal of our enduring friendship: Hayyakum – marratan ukhra – fee al-memlika al-mutahida – baladkom ath-thani (Welcome back to the United Kingdom, your second home).
“Just as our parents served and worked hard to confront the challenges of their ages, so too must we.
“And at such times of uncertainty and upheaval, old friendships assume ever greater importance.”
Appearing to refer to the Middle East, the King said: “In these most desperate of circumstances, Qatar’s continued toil, perseverance and diplomatic efforts are, quite simply, beyond compare.
“These are the duties we all share.
“As the Koran says, ‘Whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity.’ And as the Bible says, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.’
“We stand with you in our commitment to a world where peace and justice prevail over division.”
The King also praised the country, which has vast oil and gas reserves, for “joint initiatives” which he said would put Qatar and the UK “at the forefront of clean energy technology development” and a “much less polluted future”.
