Latest news with #HamadBinIsaAlKhalifa
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
King given Rolls-Royce by Bahrain
The King was given a Rolls-Royce car by the King of Bahrain as a Coronation gift, it has emerged. The car, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II, has entered the royal fleet for official rather than personal use, it is understood, and has not yet been seen carrying the Royal family on public duty. The gift, from Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, was made in May 2023 in honour of the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, and has now come to light as part of the official gift list published by Buckingham Palace. The car can run on both petrol and biofuel, with the latter in line with the King's own eco credentials. It is believed to be the only car given by a foreign royal family to be in the state fleet. There are close royal ties between Britain and Bahrain, with 37 royal visits to the Middle Eastern country since 1965. The King last visited in 2016 when he was Prince of Wales. In November 2024, the Bahraini King visited the King in Windsor, with a guard of honour and tea at the castle to mark his own silver jubilee. He was also appointed Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. The gift was included in a list of items received by the King as part of his public life during his Coronation year in 2023. Queen Elizabeth II The final official gifts given to Queen Elizabeth II before she died have also been revealed, including two lamp posts, blankets for her ponies and a drawing of her beloved Balmoral. The late Queen received a bottle of gin from the governor of New South Wales, a hazel walking cane from Her Majesty's Army, a platinum and diamond brooch from the Freemasons and a cedar of Lebanon tree from Pope Francis. The president of the Swiss Confederation gave her two blankets for her ponies, embroidered with the flags of Switzerland and the UK. The Houses of Parliament gave two lamp posts 'in the form of bronze sculptures of heraldic beasts', as a present for the Platinum Jubilee. Justin Welby, then archbishop of Canterbury, gave a Canterbury Cross and a clipping of the fig tree at Lambeth Palace, and Nicola Sturgeon, then first minister of Scotland, gave a bottle of special-edition whisky. The list of gifts, which includes books, stamps, jewellery and numerous gifts from school children, has been released by Buckingham Palace as part of the official record of 2022. Queen Elizabeth II died on Sept 8 2022, making it the final list of her 70-year reign. In 2021, the late Queen received a cobble from the original set of Coronation Street during a visit to the set. King Charles and Queen Camilla Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine, gave the King a framed mosaic, a scroll about St Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv, and a signed Ukrainian ship's flag during a 2023 audience – all are known to be areas of interest for King Charles. The president of Poland gave him a set of items relating to honey, the ambassador for Laos presented a sticky-rice basket, and the Muslim World League gave a model of a palm tree. From the president of Germany came a Beethoven CD and DVD set for the King, along with an insect hotel and bottle of port; the Blue Peter team sent gold badges. A ceremonial sword came from the Canadian Mounties, a feather crown from the indigenous leaders of the Amazon, and a leather folder of letters between Queen Elizabeth II and president Eisenhower came from Joe and Jill Biden, along with a framed photograph of Marine One landing on the lawn in Windsor. Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of the Republic of South Africa, gave the Queen a pair of candlesticks in November 2022, while Prince Jan Lubomirski-Lanckoronski, a Polish prince, gave her a rose pink hat with a feather in July 2023. The first lady of Kenya gave the Queen an embroidered giraffe in October 2023 on a state visit to Kenya, along with a tapestry of a zebra. The Crown Prince and Princess of Norway gave her a collection of books in March 2023, which included Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson and Love by Hanne Orstavik. The first lady of the Arab Republic of Egypt also gave the Queen a bag in November 2021. Prince and Princess of Wales The Prince and Princess of Wales have received dozens of gifts to take for their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, including rugby balls from France in 2023, bracelets and paint sets from Poland, and t-shirts, fire hats and backpacks from New York. They received 89 gifts, mostly from members of the public, during their 2022 tour of the Caribbean, each receiving a snorkel set, a wetsuit, a pair of diving fins and a swimming cap. Andrew Holness, the republican prime minister of Jamaica, who used the trip to say he wanted to get rid of the monarchy, gave them a bottle of rum. In 2020, the couple each received a toiletries set from Michael D Higgins, the president of Ireland, and his wife, Sabina Higgins, during an official visit. During that trip, they also each received GAA club jerseys, as well as a bottle of whisky and two whisky tumblers. Others In July 2021, the Princess Royal was given a set of five children's mouthguards on an official visit to mouthguard manufacturer Opro. A box of 51 acorns was given to her in January 2023 by the Friends of Royal Wansted School to mark the 51 years since the closure of the school. She was also given a maritime knot in a bottle the same month on a visit to Estonia, along with a giant decorative tortoise in July on a visit to Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. In October 2023, she received a handmade pygmy hog statue during the 141st International Olympic Committee Session in Mumbai. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, then the Count and Countess of Wessex, were given a Lagos version of Monopoly in February 2020 from the High Commission, Nigeria. The Duke of Kent, meanwhile, received a small silver coaster from Boodles to commemorate his patronage in April 2023. Royal gift rules Official gifts can be worn and used, but are not considered the royals' personal property. The royals do not pay tax on them. They can eat any food they are given and perishable official gifts with a value less than £150 can be given to charity or staff. Gifts cannot be sold or exchanged and eventually become part of the Royal Collection, which is held in trust for successors and the nation. The rules on official presents were tightened following the Peat Inquiry in 2003 into the sale of royal gifts and the running of St James's Palace. No gift lists have been published since 2021, with Buckingham Palace releasing all four years of records in one tranche on Friday.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Rolls-Royce and feather crown among King Charles's coronation gifts
King Charles received coronation gifts ranging from a luxury Rolls-Royce to a feather crown and two hand-woven coconut leaf hats, according to an official register. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II, thought to be worth at least £300,000, was given by the king of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa. As an official gift to Charles as head of state, the car will become part of the Royal Mews to be used on official occasions and not private use, sources indicated. The Bahraini king also handed over a decorative clock. The feather crown was a present from Amazonian Indigenous leaders, and the traditional South Pacific coconut leaf hats were from the president of the Marshall Islands. There were plenty of trees, too, from tree saplings given by the Swedish royal family to a Tirolean pine tree from the Austrian president. Other coronation gifts included a table with decorative drawer and a model ship from the emir of Kuwait; a decorative pot from the sultan of Brunei; and from the then US president, Joe Biden, a leather folder containing printed letters between Queen Elizabeth II and President Eisenhower inviting him to the UK, with a photograph of the visit. The late Queen Elizabeth received a trio of brooches among other gifts for her platinum jubilee; a white gold, platinum and diamond brooch from the Goldsmiths' Company, a diamond and platinum brooch from the Freemasons, and a platinum pearl and diamond brooch from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. The jewellery will become part of the royal collection and may be worn by other members of the royal family. Two lamp-posts outside the Houses of Parliament in the form of bronze sculptures of heraldic beasts were presented by both houses for the jubilee. China's president, Xi Jinping, sent a large cloisonné ornament in the design of a zun, a wine vessel used in ancient Chinese rituals, with motifs and patterns symbolising royalty and good fortune. The Royal Australian Air Force in 2021 sent the queen a practical gift of six dog jackets of varying sizes. Joe and Jill Biden, on the occasion of having tea at Windsor Castle, contributed an engraved specially commissioned Tiffany sterling silver box and a floral brooch. Gifts received by Queen Camilla included lapis lazuli gemstones from the former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, and a brooch from the crown prince of Kuwait. This is the first official gifts register to be published in the king's reign and dates back to 2020. Normally the list is published on the royal family website annually, but the Covid pandemic, the death of the late queen, and the coronation led to delays. Gifts cannot be sold or exchanged and eventually become part of the royal collection, which is held in trust for successors and the nation.
Asharq Al-Awsat
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Bahrain's King Discusses with Sharaa Ways to Support Syria's Security, Stability
Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Saturday discussed with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa regional developments, the situation in Syria and ways to support the country's security and stability. At the Sakhir Palace, the king and Sharaa tackled relations and opportunities to strengthen cooperation across various domains, according to Bahrain's news agency, BNA. Sharaa arrived in Manama on Saturday, heading an official delegation. He was received at the airport by Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs. Later, King Hamad held talks with Sharaa in the presence of Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The two men addressed regional developments, BNA said in a statement. They also discussed the latest developments in Syria and ways to support the country's security and stability. Sharaa's visit to Bahrain is part of Syria's diplomatic efforts to secure Arab support for the lifting of sanctions and the funding of the country's reconstruction, Syrian officials say. 'The visit to Bahrain is part of the new Syrian government's efforts to build bridges through communications with the Arabian Peninsula in order to return Syria to the Arab embrace,' Noureddine Ismail, editor-in chief of Al Thawra, the official Syrian newspaper, told Asharq Al-Awsat. He said Al Sharaa's trips abroad reinforce statements about Syria's need to rely on Arab countries to regain the country's pivotal role in the region.
Zawya
20-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
UAE promotes national agricultural sustainability initiatives at Bahrain International Garden Show 2025
Dubai: The United Arab Emirates is showcasing its latest sustainable technologies and practices in modern agriculture at the Bahrain International Garden Show 2025 (BIGS). The UAE is also promoting key initiatives and projects that support environmental sustainability and food security, as well as actively facilitating the exchange of expertise and perspectives with participating nations and entities. Under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the exhibition is being held from February 20 to 23 at Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB). The UAE delegation is led by His Excellency Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), and includes senior officials and representatives from the Ministry, the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) in Abu Dhabi, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, and the Agriculture and Livestock Department in Sharjah. The UAE is showcasing its key initiatives and projects that advance environmental and agricultural sustainability, emphasising the significant potential of climate-smart agricultural technologies tailored to the region's challenging climatic conditions - a fundamental pillar of the nation's sustainability efforts. H.E. Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of MOCCAE, said "Our participation in the Bahrain International Garden Show will further foster the exchange of regional and international expertise in sustainable agriculture. Climate change and global environmental challenges necessitate a reassessment of traditional agricultural methods and a shift toward innovation in developing smart agricultural systems that enhance natural resource efficiency and minimise waste." His Excellency added, 'The UAE is home to several modern, vertical, and hydroponic farms that produce thousands of tons of high-quality vegetables and fruits using advanced irrigation systems to optimise water use, minimise waste, and conserve vital water resources. Through strategic initiatives, policies, and partnerships, the UAE aims to promote the development of these farms, which represent the future of agriculture and food security in the nation.' His Excellency explained, "The adoption of the latest and most advanced agricultural practices plays a crucial role in optimising the use of essential resources such as water and soil. The implementation of these solutions also contributes to reducing carbon emissions and strengthening the agricultural sector's resilience to climate change." Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, Secretary General of the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) in Bahrain, visited the UAE's pavilion at the Bahrain International Garden Show 2025. She was accompanied by His Excellency Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of (MOCCAE), who provided an overview of the UAE's key agricultural projects and initiatives. The discussion highlighted the efforts of various participating entities in promoting environmental sustainability, as well as the UAE's commitment to enhancing sustainable food security through modern agriculture and innovative approaches to increasing food production. Participation of UAE Entities in the Bahrain International Garden Show 2025 As part of its participation, MOCCAE is presenting several pioneering national initiatives, including the 'Plant the Emirates' National Programme, the National Food Security Strategy 2051, and the National Carbon Sequestration Project. Additionally, MOCCAE is highlighting the Guidelines for Mangrove Restoration in the UAE and a GIS-based map of mangrove locations. The exhibition also features a series of children's stories about mangrove, designed to enhance environmental awareness among younger generations. MOCCAE is also presenting the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) launched by the UAE in collaboration with Indonesia, with the objective of expanding the global presence of mangrove forests. The alliance currently comprises 45 nations committed to promoting mangrove cultivation as a key nature-based solution for combating climate change. Mangroves serve as natural carbon sinks and play a critical role in protecting coastal ecosystems. The UAE has pledged to plant 100 million mangroves by 2030. Alongside MOCCAE, several prominent national entities are participating in the event, highlighting innovative projects that promote environmental and agricultural sustainability. The Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi presents the Smart Parks project, which leverages artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to enhance the visitor experience in public parks. The project features smart lighting systems, interactive pathways, and visitor data analysis to optimise park design, alongside advanced monitoring technologies to strengthen security. The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi is highlighting the use of native plant species in garden design and biodiversity conservation, emphasising the role of desert plants in promoting environmental sustainability and minimising water consumption in agricultural projects. The Agriculture and Livestock Department in Sharjah presents several pioneering projects in the food security sector, including Meliha Dairy Farm, which aims to enhance the production of fresh milk using high-quality cow breeds, and the Honey Apiaries project, which supports the production of organic honey and contributes to the preservation of biodiversity. The department will also showcase the capabilities of Wheat Farm in Meliha, which relies on the circular economy and modern agricultural techniques to increase production and reduce water consumption. Two Main Sections of BIGS The Bahrain International Garden Show 2025 consists of two primary sections: Commercial Section, which aims to create valuable opportunities for participating institutions to develop their businesses and expand their operations at local, regional, and international levels. Educational Section, which offers comprehensive insights into the latest agricultural innovations, facilitates knowledge exchange, and promotes awareness of best practices in garden care, green space management, and environmental conservation. The Bahrain International Garden Show serves as a key platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration between government and private entities in the agricultural and environmental sectors. This year's edition highlights smart agriculture, sustainable development, and best practices aimed at strengthening food security.
