Princess Anne Gracefully Saves Near Protocol Mistake with Amir of Qatar at State Banquet

Mar. 15, 2025

Princess Anne, Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and King Charles at the Buckingham Palace state banquet on Dec. 3, 2024 in London.Photo:Jordan Pettitt - WPA Pool / Getty

Jordan Pettitt - WPA Pool / Getty

Princess Anneknew just what to do when she almost made a protocol mistake involving the Amir of Qatar at the Buckingham Palace state banquet.

As seen in video shared toX, credited to Sky News, Princess Anne looked out at the crowd when it was time for a toast, as the Amir and the King clinked their glasses together. The Princess Royal then went in to take a sip from her glass, before catching herself as she made eye contact with the Amir. The two shared a smile as they tapped their glasses, and he took a sip.

Princess Anne, Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and King Charles at the Buckingham Palace state banquet on Dec. 3, 2024.Jordan Pettitt - WPA Pool / Getty

In a true princess move, Princess Anne double checked in the other direction — perhaps to ensure no one else was waiting! — and nodded her head, raised her glass and took a drink.

While the royal family’swebsitedoesn’t specify any etiquette around state banquets, the glittering dinners are famously formal with extensive preparations, a white-tie dress code,tiara wearand speeches. Toasts around a table have long been interpreted as a gesture of goodwill, and Princess Anne made a graceful save with her fellow dinner guest.

Princess Anne, Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Buckingham Palace state banquet on Dec. 3, 2024.Jordan Pettitt - WPA Pool / Getty

King Charles andQueen Camillahosted the Amir of Qatar and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, for a state visit from Dec. 3 to Dec. 4, reuniting them with two royal guests from their May 2023 coronation day. Princess Anne’s careful catch at the state dinner called back to another protocol moment she recently shared with Queen Camilla, when the sister-in-laws shared a rare joint engagement at the University of London.

On Nov. 20, the Princess Royal had the honor of presenting the Queen, 77, with an honorary doctorate of literature from the college for her dedicated efforts to promote literacy and literature. Princess Anne is Chancellor of the University of London, and Queen Camilla reportedly invited her to walk into a room first.

Queen Camilla and Princess Anne at the University of London on Nov. 20, 2024.Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty

Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty

Sticking with tradition, Anne allegedly insisted that Camilla lead the way, honoring the order of precedence. TheDaily Expresssaid that Princess Anne “smiled and politely refused — allowing Camilla to enter first.”

Though Princess Anne was born royal as the daughter of the lateQueen ElizabethandPrince Philip, Queen Camilla is technically ahead of her as King Charles' wife and the Queen.

Princess Anne, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Lady Thomas of Cwmgiedd and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence arrive to attend the state banquet at Buckingham Palace on Dec. 3, 2024.WPA Pool/Getty

WPA Pool/Getty

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King Charles' only sister continued the streak in 2024 with a whopping 217 engagements as of mid-November, SEO agencyReboot Onlinesaid then, despite suffering aconcussion in Junethat forced her to cancel some royal plans amid a brief hospitalization and recovery.

source: people.com