London : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attended a dinner banquet hosted in his honour by His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
During the event, HM King Hamad gave a speech in which His Majesty commended the deep-rooted relations between Bahrain and the United Kingdom; a bond that has spanned over two centuries.
The speech text was as follows:
Your Majesty,
Dear Friends,
Thank you, Your Majesty, for the gracious invitation to Dinner tonight. Your personal touches and generous gesture is warmly appreciated by myself, my family, and my beloved Bahrainis.
The Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom share a strong and deep-rooted friendship, stretching back over two centuries. This close relationship has assisted us in building our own unique Bahrain model in the areas of education, health, banking and investment, security and justice. We are, after all, two island nations, who have co-existed on trade, openness and engagement.
And the close attachment between our nations is exemplified by the strong ties we have with Your Majesty and your family. This enduring relationship gives us confidence, assurance and somebody to turn to if support is required. We believe that Your Majesty has our best interests at heart.
A relevant example of this relationship is our co-operation in Defence. This is not a new alignment. Next year commemorates the 80th Anniversary of the ending of World War Two. Bahrain stood side-by-side with the Allies in the conflict and contributed 10 Spitfires to the Desert Air Force. Furthermore, we were the only Arab nation to allow access to an oil refinery.
Today, this military and strategic cooperation continues at all levels. The physical embodiment of this is the UK Royal Navy Support Facility, which we were pleased to welcome back to the Kingdom of Bahrain “East of Suez”. This year the base will celebrate its 10th anniversary.
Your Majesty, I hope that you will indulge me while I touch on the rich legacy and outstanding life of your dear Mother. Her Late Majesty’s dedication, warmth and service was an inspiration to us all. I have often reflected on the genuine friendship she extended to me and will remember our shared interest in horses. I feel privileged and honoured to have known the late Queen. And may I say, your Mother’s long and rich life, lives on through Your Majesty’s diligent work and sense of selfless commitment.
Your Majesty has the same values and personal attributes that I greatly admire. We have so much in common, including our strongly held beliefs in religious inclusivity and tolerance for all faiths.
Thank you, once again, for this wonderful evening, which has brought together many dear friends in such a welcoming and warm atmosphere. Your thoughtfulness is hugely appreciated, and we will leave here tonight with friendships and alliances reaffirmed.
It would be a huge honour if Your Majesty allowed me to re-pay your hospitality. We would be delighted to welcome you to the Kingdom of Bahrain in the near future.
Thank you
During the dinner, HM King Charles III welcomed HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the United Kingdom and praised the enduring and close relationship between Bahrain and the UK, as well as their royal families. HM King Charles III also congratulated HM the King on the Silver Jubilee of his accession.
In his remarks, HM King Charles III highlighted HM the King’s achievements over the past 25 years. He said, “From your first days on the throne, with your vision for a national action charter commanding universal support on the essential elements of the Bahraini nation, to a year in which you have pardoned and rehabilitated thousands, you continue to lead with such heartfelt care for your people – all your people, all Faiths, striving for ever greater Harmony – as your first and guiding concern.”
HM King Charles III continued, “It is no surprise, then, that Bahrain is famed for its incredibly warm welcome, not least to the many people of the United Kingdom who now call Bahrain ‘home’. And in this year, as Arab League President, you have shown the same care for the people of the region, at the forefront of the drive for peace.”
HM King Charles III expressed pride in having so much in common with His Majesty King Hamad in the issues that Their Majesties have championed and worked together to address. This includes the preservation of heritage; developing human potential and concern for the next generation; creating new towns which are sustainable and create a sense of place by nurturing the soul with traditional beauty; deepening the understanding between those of different faiths and beliefs; caring for the natural world; and showing compassion and redemption to create more inclusive society.
His Majesty added, “It means more than I can say that Your Majesty and I have been ‘fellow travellers’ on these paths for more years than I can mention, and that we continue to work so closely together to translate theory into solid practice.”
HM King Charles III further expressed deep appreciation for Bahrain’s longstanding support for the British Armed Forces, highlighting that it has been ten years since the announcement of hosting the Naval Support Facility, which he inaugurated eight years ago during a visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain. His Majesty underscored the vital role of this facility in maintaining stability in the region, even in the most challenging of times.
His Majesty King Charles III concluded by saying, “Your Majesty, our two Kingdoms have known one another as friends, allies and partners for centuries. As the world has changed around us, that we share a common outlook has never felt so important.”
Then, the two monarchs exchanged cordial talks on the historic ties between their royal families and the deep-rooted, flourishing relationship between Bahrain and the United Kingdom, which continues to strengthen across various fields for the benefit of both nations.
The dinner banquet was also attended by the delegation accompanying HM the King.
