Historic Gesture Signals Strengthened Ties Amid Key Royal Visits
In a surprising turn, King Charles has taken a significant step in royal diplomacy by bestowing the prestigious title of Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order upon King Abdullah of Jordan and King Hamad of Bahrain.
This distinguished honor, typically reserved for British royals or heirs to the throne, marks a rare exception and underscores the growing diplomatic relationship between the UK and the Middle Eastern nations. Both King Abdullah and King Hamad were hosted by King Charles during their visits to the UK, despite neither being on an official state visit—a further testament to the importance of the occasion.
The Royal Victorian Order, founded by Queen Victoria in 1896, is awarded for extraordinary service to the British monarchy. King Charles’s decision to include the two Middle Eastern monarchs reflects their longstanding contributions and the strengthening of bilateral ties.
The honorary appointments coincided with a busy week for the 76-year-old monarch, who chose to celebrate his birthday with a series of low-key engagements rather than elaborate festivities. He inaugurated two new Coronation Food Hubs in London, marking the first anniversary of the charitable initiative launched last year.
A new portrait released by Buckingham Palace in honor of King Charles’s milestone birthday depicts the monarch in a confident, poised stance, dressed in a regal blue suit. The image captures Charles with a hand casually in his pocket, embodying a sense of relaxed dignity as he continues his duties, even as he shakes up traditional protocols with bold diplomatic gestures.
