Prince and Princess of Wales dazzle as they join King hosting Sultan of Oman at glittering State Banquet – with royals bidding to put ‘distraction’ of Harry’s latest interview behind them

The Prince and Princess of Wales dazzled at King Charles’s state banquet for the Sultan of Oman tonight – just hours after Prince Harry’s interview insisting he wants to reconcile with his family.  

The monarch was accompanied by William and Kate, Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester as they hosted the Sultan and his retinue in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle. 

One hundred and sixty guests were invited to dine on Scottish langoustine and Cornish crab, pot roasted Windsor pheasant and stuffed cabbage, individual baked Alaskas with Balmoral Plum and Windsor Estate honey ice cream.

The feast was washed down with a variety of wines, although Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said will toast with a soft drink. 

Princess Catherine looked radiant as she arrived at the event wearing a yellow gown by Elie Saab and Lovers Knot Tiara, while Queen Camilla wore an elegant royal blue dress. 

Prince William was dressed for the occasion in a Windsor tail coat and donned a row of miniature medals. 

It comes hours after the King’s youngest son Harry insisted he wants to reconcile with his family, while denying he was taking a ‘swipe’ at his brother William when declaring: ‘Some people don’t want it to work out.’

The Duke of Sussex, who has not spoken to William for four years, admitted in an interview with GQ that he is grieving his ‘complicated relationships’ with the King and the Prince of Wales.

Tonight’s 50 metre long table, which runs the whole length of the room, has been laid with 480 knives, 480 forks, 160 spoons and the Grand Service, commissioned by George IV, which runs to more than 4,000 silver-gilt pieces.

In a touching tribute, the centre 12-light St George and the dragon candelabra, commissioned by William IV in 1833, was decorated with pomegranates grown on a tree planted by the late Duke of Edinburgh around 50 years ago on the East Terrace.

The unseasonably warm summer has caused it to fruit so staff decided to use them as decorations, although they will not be consumed afterwards as they are inedible.

For the first time the salt on the table has been imprinted with the King’s royal cypher.

Among the guests are athlete Mazoon Al Alawi and sailor Mohsin Al Busaidi. It is also Andy Burnham’s first state banquet as Prime Minister.    

It comes after Charles rolled out a rather soggy red carpet earlier today as senior royals welcomed the Sultan – described as one of the world’s ‘most discreet billionaires’ – to the castle for his State Visit. 

Tonight, the King has served to serve up a cocktail inspired by an Omani ritual meaning ‘hospitality’. 

The post-state banquet drink is based on a spiced coffee traditionally shared in Oman, with dates as a gesture of friendship, and has been ‘reimagined’ by the team at Windsor Castle.

The beverage has been adapted through a ‘distinctly British lens’, drawing on the nation’s long-standing love of tea while preserving the aromatic spices and flavours that make Kahwa so distinctive: fragrant cardamom, delicate rose, sweet dates, and gentle warming spices.

These notes have been woven together with British teas and Windsor honey for a non-alcoholic treat.

Guests will be invited to choose from an Iced Earl Grey & Date, an Iced Mint & Rose, or a Warm Cardamom-Spiced Blend sweetened with Windsor Honey.

Tonight’s flower selection will include handpicked seasonal flowers from the gardens at Buckingham Palace. 

During Harry’s interview today, the Duke was asked directly whether he really wanted to heal the rift with his brother and father. Harry replied: ‘Of course I do. With everything else that’s going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile. That’s the key point.’

But in remarks widely interpreted as a dig at William, he added: ‘Some people don’t want it to work out. I want it to work out.’

Hours after the interview was published, a Sussex spokesman insisted the remark was not aimed at his older brother as speculation mounted over who Harry was referring to.

He said: ‘It was absolutely not intended as a swipe at his brother or any other member of his family.

‘The comment was made in a general context and was not directed at his family in any way.’

READ MORE: Kate beams in green as she joins William, Charles and Camilla in hosting the Sultan of Oman on State Visit to the UK