On December 3, 2024, King Charles III hosted a state banquet to conclude the first day of the Emir of Qatar's state visit to his country. This banquet was the first opportunity that the two sovereigns had to wear their last high distinctions exchanged a few hours before: the sword of the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani for one and the insignia of the grand cross of the order of Bath for the other.
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King Charles III and Emir Tamim of Qatar wear their new regalia for the first time at the state banquet
On 3-4 December 2024, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is on a two-day state visit to the United Kingdom with his wife, Sheikha Jawahir. The Qatari sovereign knows England well, having followed his university studies and military training there. Emir Tamim, 44, also has many personal interests in the country where he frequently visits. However, this is only his ninth stay in an official setting and his only trip in the form of a state visit.
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After his formal and military welcome in the open air at Horse Guards Parade, Emir Tamim joined Buckingham Palace aboard a carriage which he shared with King Charles III, 76 years old. At Buckingham Palace, the two heads of state carried out the usual ceremonies, namely bilateral exchanges and the diplomatic gift exchange ceremony. Among these gifts, the sovereigns exchanged high distinctions. As tradition dictates, these newly received distinctions are worn for the first time in the evening, during the state banquet.
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King Charles III receives the Founder's Sword and Emir Tamim receives the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
On Tuesday evening, Sheikh Tamim and Sheikha Jawahir met King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace to share a state banquet. Queen Camilla wore Queen Alexandra's imposing kokoshnik tiara for the first time, to honor her guests. The Emir of Qatar wore for the first time the red cord of the Order of the Bath which he received earlier in the day. Finally, King Charles III held in his hands the Founder's sword which he also received during the insignia exchange ceremony.
The highest honor of the State of Qatar is the Sword of the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani. Unlike most distinctions, this one does not include a badge or cord. The distinction is a real sword that the recipients hold in their hands during protocol ceremonies. This is a replica of a weapon that belonged to Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani.
This is the highest award given by the State of Qatar. The award is named after the founder of the modern state of Qatar. His father, Sheikh Mohammed was already the leader of the Qatari peninsula, the first who was recognized by the British in 1868. Sheikh Jassim, through his many victorious battles, his numerous structural reforms, his constructions and the creation of a state Solid is considered the founder of modern Qatar. He reigned from 1878 and is an ancestor of the current emir.
The sword which is presented in distinction, only to heads of state and members of royal families, is a faithful copy of the sword truly worn by Sheikh Jassim. The copy is made on the basis of precise descriptions that exist of the object. The scabbard and decoration of the sword are made of 18 carat gold. A hallmark is present near the base of the sword. The handle of the sword is made of camel bone. The first part of the scabbard was hand-chiseled and is set with tourmaline and garnet stones.
King Charles III awarded his guest the insignia of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. The recipients wear the star badge as well as a red cord scarf. King Charles is the sovereign of all British orders but has appointed his son, Prince William, as grand master of this order. The Right Honorable Order of the Bath, called the Right Honorable Military Order of the Bath until the reign of Queen Victoria, welcomes into its ranks distinguished military personnel and high-ranking civil servants.
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Members of the order come in third position of precedence, after members of the Order of the Garter and members of the Order of the Thistle, during protocol events. In reality, it is fourth, behind the order of St. Patrick, but the latter order is dormant. Emir Tamim of Qatar himself received his military training in the United Kingdom, having graduated from the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
The order of the Bath has its origins in a practice which is said to have been established in 1399, when King Henry IV of England invited his close squires to take a bath the day before his coronation. Purification ceremonies have always taken place and in the Middle Ages, dubbing ceremonies were particularly elaborate. But it was not until 1725 that the military order of the Bath was truly established by King George I. Its name always refers to the ceremony of purification by water of new knights.
Nicolas Fontaine
Editor-in-chief
Nicolas Fontaine has been a designer-editor and author for numerous Belgian and French brands and media. A specialist in royal family news, Nicolas founded the site Histoires royales of which he is the editor-in-chief. [email protected]
