Foreword continued
National Museum, with a splendid collection of art from the British Council’s collection which will also be shown in Jeddah and in Al Khobar. It was also an honour and a pleasure for me in my final weeks to be able to host the annual Queen’s Birthday Parties in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. These events are always special, but this year’s were cause for particular celebration, given that this is the 60th year of Her Majesty the Queen’s reign, her Diamond Jubilee. I think that the Saudi people, with their own monarchy, understand the importance of such moments, and how monarchies embody national identity, and provide a reassuring continuity through the years and the changing times. I hope that many Saudis will be in London this summer, some to watch the Olympic and Paralympics games. I hope too that some Saudi athletes will return with medals. I was particularly pleased that members of the Saudi team for the Paralympics trained at the internationally-known Stoke Mandeville Hospital. I wish all of you success and happiness in the future – one in which I’m sure that the relationship between our two Kingdoms will continue to grow and flourish. Sir Tom Phillips KCMG British Ambassador 4
Kingdom to Kingdom
DEFENCE MINISTER HRH PRINCE SALMAN BIN ABD AL AZIZ AL SAUD VISITS THE UK Defence Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Abd Al Aziz Al Saud made his first international trip in his new appointment to London in early April 2012. That he chose to make this trip as his first international one was a great honour and bears testament to the longstanding and close relationship between our two countries. In earlier discussions with Ambassador Sir Tom Phillips, Prince Salman had made his love of London clear and often said that it brought back fond memories. In true English fashion, the Easter weather was unpredictable but even the wetter periods were not bad enough to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm. His Royal Highness met the Prime Minster at 10 Downing Street, the Foreign Secretary at the FCO and the Secretary of State for
Defence at Admiralty House as well as seeing other senior public officials whose work brings them into regular contact with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Secretary of State for Defence, The Right Honourable Phillip Hammond MP also hosted a dinner in honour of his guest at Admiralty House which was attended by senior military and defence figures from both the UK and Saudi Arabia. HRH Prince Salman also took time to visit the ‘Hajj’ exhibition at the British Museum.