Princess Anne skillfully navigated the intricate royal protocol during the grand state banquet held in honor of the Emir of Qatar at Buckingham Palace this week. The Princess Royal, aged 74, found herself seated next to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the dinner, stepping into a more prominent role after Queen Camilla was compelled to cancel her appearance.
During Tuesday's banquet, Anne nearly overlooked toasting the guest of honor at the dinner table—a faux pas that would have violated royal protocol. In a video shared on X, attributed to Sky News, King Charles' sister was observed glancing at other attendees as the Emir clinked his glass with Charles. As Anne brought her glass towards her, she suddenly realized her oversight and quickly raised her glass, making eye contact with the Emir of Qatar before taking a sip.
While other senior members of the royal family were present, Princess Catherine and Queen Camilla were absent due to their respective health issues. The Sheikh, 44, and his first wife, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, 39, were warmly received by the British royals in London during their two-day visit to England.
Earlier this week, the Prince and Princess of Wales joined the Qatar royals at the Horse Guards Parade, where Charles welcomed the royal couple. Camilla, 77, was unable to attend the event as she recovers from a chest infection. Meanwhile, Middleton, 42, participated in Tuesday's daytime festivities—marking her first state visit since her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
Following the Horse Guards Parade, William and Middleton, along with Charles and the Qatar royals, returned to Buckingham Palace in a carriage procession. Anne's near-miss comes just weeks after she politely prevented her sister-in-law, Queen Camilla, from breaching royal protocol during a recent royal engagement. Upon arriving together at the University of London for an event, they were guided into the Senate House, where the ceremony took place.
In a gesture of respect, Camilla invited Anne to enter the room first—a move that would have broken the first step of the royal protocol established since 1066. Anne, well-versed in the royal family's order of precedence, 'smiled and politely declined'—instead, ushering Camilla to enter the room first. During public-facing duties, royals are expected to adhere to the 'sequential hierarchy of nominal importance,' ensuring that their majesties always enter the room first. Despite being the only daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Anne still ranks below King Charles' wife within the royal hierarchy.
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