Jordan’s King Abdullah meets Britain’s King Charles on London visit

King Abdullah II of Jordan visited Britain's King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on Thursday during a stop in London before he heads to the US.

The two heads of state embraced at King Charles's official London residence, where Jordan's Royal Hashemite Court said they discussed "the historical friendship between the two kingdoms and ways to consolidate it". King Abdullah is next heading to Washington and Boston on a US trip.

It is the second meeting in three months between the monarchs, after King Abdullah visited Britain's Windsor Castle in November. On that occasion, King Charles gave him a silver beaker to mark 25 years since his accession to the Jordanian throne. King Charles visited Jordan five times as heir, most recently in 2021.

King Abdullah's 2024 Windsor Castle visit - in pictures

King Abdullah II of Jordan was a guest of Britain's King Charles III at Windsor Castle in Berkshire for tea on Thursday November 7, 2024. PA

King Charles presented King Abdullah with a silver beaker to celebrate his 25 years on the throne of Jordan. Getty Images

King Abdullah is greeted by King Charles as he arrives at Windsor Castle. The meeting of the monarchs was accompanied by a guard of honour and the playing of the British and Jordanian national anthems. PA

King Abdullah, accompanied by King Charles, inspects the guard of honour from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards at Windsor Castle. AP

Members of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards take their leave after performing a guard of honour for King Abdullah at Windsor Castle. Reuters

Members of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, march into the quadrangle before performing a guard of honour for King Abdullah. PA

King Abdullah has repeatedly used trips to Europe to press for a resolution to the fighting in the Middle East. As a politically neutral monarch, King Charles has avoided commenting publicly on the conflict except to speak of the "heartbreaking loss of life" after the Israel-Gaza war broke out in October 2023.

During his visit in November, King Abdullah also issued a joint warning with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer about escalating violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Mr Starmer has praised Jordan for its "leadership in the region".

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PSG's line up

GK: Alphonse Areola (youth academy)

Defence - RB: Dani Alves (free transfer); CB: Marquinhos (€31.4 million); CB: Thiago Silva (€42m); LB: Layvin Kurzawa (€23m)

Midfield - Angel di Maria (€47m); Adrien Rabiot (youth academy); Marco Verratti (€12m)

Forwards - Neymar (€222m); Edinson Cavani (€63m); Kylian Mbappe (initial: loan; to buy: €180m)

Total cost: €440.4m (€620.4m if Mbappe makes permanent move)

Strait of Hormuz

Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.

The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.

Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.

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MATCH INFO

Watford 1 (Deulofeu 80' p)

Chelsea 2 (Abraham 5', Pulisic 55')

While you're here

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Date started: December 24, 2018

Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer

Based: Dubai Media City

Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)

Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech

Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year

Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020

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The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler

Price, base / as tested Dh57,000

Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine

Transmission Six-speed gearbox

Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm

Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.