UK: STATE VISIT OF KING FAISAL OF SAUDI ARABIA

Record ID: 189649

  • Title: UK: STATE VISIT OF KING FAISAL OF SAUDI ARABIA
  • Date: 9th May 1967
  • Summary: KING FAISAL GREETED AT LONDON AIRPORT BY THE DUKE OF KENT; KING INSPECTS GUARD OF HONOUR; KING FAISAL GREETED BY QUEEN ELIZABETH AND DUKE OF EDINBURGH; KING FAISAL AND BRITISH ROYAL COUPLE ON CEREMONIAL DRIVE TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE, IN CENTRAL LONDON. Initials ???/V/BHH/SGM Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 24th May 1967 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, UK
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA1SESOIF0B15IU4QCCPT7UQ8DW
  • Story Text: KING FAISAL OF SAUDI ARABIA, ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING ABSOLUTE MONARCHS IN THE WORLD, ARRIVED IN LONDON TODAY TO BEGIN HIS NINE-DAY STATE VISIT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM. HE WAS MET BY THE DUKE OF KENT, THE QUEEN'S COUSIN, AT LONDON AIRPORT, AND WAS THEN DRIVEN INTO CENTRAL LONDON WHERE QUEEN ELIZABETH AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WERE WAITING TO JOIN HIM FOR THE CEREMONIAL PROCESSION TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE.

    MEN OF THE BRITISH ARMED FORCES LINED THE ENTIRE ROUTE TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE, THE QUEEN'S HOME IN LONDON, THROUGH CROWDED AND GAILY DECORATED STREETS. AFTER ARRIVING AT THE PALACE, THERE WAS A QUIET LUNCH WITH THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH BEFORE THE START OF A HEAVY PROGRAMME OFFICIAL VISIT AND FORMALITIES. THE DAY ENDED WITH A STATE BANQUET.

    DURING THE INITIAL CEREMONIES, WHICH TOOK PLACE AT THE TATE GALLERY THE KING MET OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, MILITARY LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE PRIME MINISTER, MR. HAROLD WILSON. KING FAISAL AND MR WILSON ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO FURTHER MEETINGS TO DISCUSS MIDDLE EAST ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTS ON THE WIDER INTERNATIONAL SCENE.

    ON THE ADEN ISSUE, KING FAISAL SUPPORTS BRITISH WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROTECTORATE, BUT FEARS INCREASED EGYPTIAN INFLUENCE THERE IF THE SOUTH ARABIAN FEDERATION REMAINS UNSTABLE. ON THE YEMEN, HE SUPPORTS THE ROYALISTS AGAINST THE EGYPTIAN-PACKED REPUBLICANS.

    KING FAISAL CAME TO POWER AFTER DEPOSING HIS HALF-BROTHER, KING SAUD, IN 1964. EX-KING SAUD NOW LIVES IN EGYPT.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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