Britain’s Prince Charles joined a sword dance in Saudi Arabia last night (18.02.14).
The 65-year-old royal took part a ceremony which celebrated Arabic culture, dressed in traditional clothing, alongside the country’s royal family and took part in an ardah – known as a sword dance – at a stadium in the capital, Riyadh.
This was part of the annual 17-day Janadriyah Festival and Charles’ host was Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, second deputy prime minister.
Sir John Jenkins, the UK’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, previously said: "Our two kingdoms share a long friendship, going back to the foundation of the modern Saudi state. Continuity of personal relationships, essential if we are to understand each other better, have been central to this."
The royal family share a strong bond with many of the Middle Eastern countries that are ruled by the Arab royalty.
Nick Hopton, the UK’s ambassador to Qatar, said: "I am delighted that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is to visit Qatar again. This is an opportunity to showcase the strong ties between the UK and Qatar, which we value greatly."
Prince Charles joins sword dance in Saudi Arabia
