The state visit of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

Should Britain be giving the red carpet treatment to a regime with such a dodgy record on arms deals, human rights abuses and exporting terrorism?

3pm Update

In the face of mounting criticism and protesters shouting "shame on you" King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia got a full ceremonial welcome today led by the Queen.

Scroll down and refresh for updates on the controversial state visit, plus the boycotts and protests, reaction to the trip, and your chance to comment.


Protesters are mingling with tourists outside Buckingham palace ahead of the King's arrival.

The British press is divided about the visit. The Telegraph takes a realpolitik approach claiming that Saudi Arabia is a key trade partner for Britain and an ally in the fight against terrorism. But the Guardian says: "As Britain's royal and political elite pay homage to the ruler of an intolerant, brutal and theocratic regime, it is worth asking exactly what those benefits are."

Steve Bell has a characteristic cartoon on the visit. It shows the Queen and Gordon Brown hiding their eyes as a sheikh carts in a barrow load of gold.

On BBC News 24 the corporation's security correspondent Frank Gardner, who was shot by terrorist in Saudi Arabia, says the British government is making less of a fuss about the King's remarks on terrorism, than the media.

He claims that King is a reformer who would like to see women being allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia.


The Saudi-funded Arabic daily Asharq Alawsat has a suitably reverential account of the visit, with hardly a word about the controversy.

Guards in bearskins, with bayonets fixed, are going through their paces on Horseguards Parade ready to do their stuff for the Saudi Royals. The tourist are loving it, and the protesters are thin on the ground judging by the live pictures on Sky News.

Demonstrators are meeting outside the ICA gallery on the Mall, according to the Campaign Against Arms Trade.

Its spokesman Symon Hill says: "It seems that the only people in the UK who still support Abdullah's visit are BAE Systems and their friends in government. The British public do not want the UK to be subservient to a brutal dictatorship for the sake of the arms trade. It's time for Gordon Brown to put human rights and the public interest ahead of BAE's profits."

Peter Tatchell on Comment is Free can't contain his anger about the visit. "The Killer King's visit is about business, very big business. And under Labour, as with their Conservative predecessors, money-making trumps human rights every time," he writes.

Amnesty has more on those human rights abuses here.


Britain's top brass including the prime minister, the home secretary and various mayors are lined up like a team of footballers to listen to the national anthems of both kingdoms.

The Queen has arrived and is shaking the hands of those lines up. It's called an honour guard, according to Frank Gardner.


The bandsman have finished playing.


King Abdullah has arrived in a big Bentley (or was it a Rolls?). He gets out of the car flanked by yeomen dressed in ancient red costumes. He is introduced to the honour guard by the Queen, starting with Gordon Brown.

The band plays the Saudi Anthem. Prince Charles is fiddling with something in his pocket.

King Abdullah begins to review the guards with Prince Philip dressed in a top hat (there's lots of interesting head gear on show).

The two monarchs get in to an extremely ornate horse drawn carriage. The octenegarians are two of the oldest reigning monarchs in the world, the BBC reminds us.


The state carriage is going down the Mall, with no sign of protests. There's some shouting but that could be the guardsmen. The Mall is lined with massive Union Jacks and Saudi Arabia's green flag.

The procession has safely reached Buckingham Palace after rounding the roundabout surrounding the statue of Queen Victoria.

The King and the Queen head inside for a private lunch, but not before posing for a cheesy photograph. Prince Charles taps his pockets again and follows his Mum and the King inside.


Amnesty international gives its damning verdict on Saudi Arabia's human rights record in Guardian video here.

Naffed Off can't understand why the visit is taking place. "The sad, awful truth is that we fete these people, we fawn on them, we supply them with fighter jets, whisky and whores. As our close allies across the pond treat them the same (the last figures show that Saudi own 7% of the USA) must we follow suit? How much of the UK belongs to them?"

Ammar says Britain gave the King an "unbelievable lavish welcome". He/she was also impressed with the King's luggage. "The amount of belongings brought along was so large, that actually unloading the King's luggage (including his entourage) took a little over 3 hours. They also required 84 limousines to drive into London. Mind you, the party was composed of almost 400 aides; 400! Now that, my friends, is making an entrance."


Not much support for the royal visit over on Comment is Free

But there's sympathy for the Queen on the Daily Mail's message boards.

Giovanna, from Rome, says: "As the Queen of England, a political welcome to the King of Saudi Arabia is required from her. Damned if she does and damned if she doesn't. She is doing her duty and not accepting hospitality in Tuscan villas or a day at the camel races."


The King was greeted by jeers from around 50 protesters in the Mall, according to the Times. The Press Association says there were 100 protesters, some shouting "shame on you".

Amir Taheri in the Times argues that the pace of change in Saudi Arabia is slow but that it is trusted ally. He says: "Gesture politics will not alter the fact that Saudi Arabia is Britain's largest trading partner in the Middle East and the single biggest customer of its arms.


A menu for tonight's banquet has been released. Bizarrely it includes a wine list.

The starter is a fillets of sole with salmon mousse and butter Sauce. Then they will be tucking into noisettes of venison with stuffed tomatoes and braised lettuce. (no word on whether the deer is halal). There's also a pear, walnut and celery Salad. For afters they get a raspberry shortbread tartlet.

The wine list includes a 2000 Puligny-Montrachet and a 1986 Comtesse de Lalande.