King Charles praises Oman's 'noble efforts' to keep the Strait of Hormuz open at a Windsor state banquet

Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said is the first Omani ruler on a state visit to Britain since 1982. King Charles broke into Arabic in his speech to 160 guests in St George's Hall and hailed Oman's 'constructive neutrality' as 'worthy of our utmost respect'. The Strait has been effectively shut since February, when the US-Israeli strikes on Iran began the war. It was Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first state banquet.

Andy Burnham is to host the Sultan at Downing Street today and sign a maritime security pact.

The King called Oman a 'trusted interlocutor to all parties' as conflict 'returned so painfully'.

Iran says the Strait will not reopen until the US accepts deals proposed by Tehran.