The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

Current affairsNews

Queen’s lunch criticised over “royal tyrant” guests

Queen’s lunch criticised over “royal tyrant” guests
18 May 2012
Sophie Mihell-Hale
Avatar
Sophie Mihell-Hale
18 May 2012

In a gathering to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this Friday afternoon, Queen Elizabeth is hosting a historic lunch at Windsor Castle for 26 of the world’s sovereign monarchs. Treated to a British-inspired menu, foreign royals and 12 members of the British monarchy will come together in the biggest gathering of foreign royals in the UK since the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding last year.

The guest list has been widely criticised by human rights groups as it has been revealed that the King of Bahrain is amongst those invited. Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s regime has been accused of brutal suppression, which has led to much international condemnation. Major demonstrations in Bahrain last year were violently crushed by Bahraini and Saudi forces and many feel that little has changed since.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has said that “all world sovereigns” were invited to the event and that the invitations were issued in a private, not public, capacity. The FCO then added that the UK was a longstanding friend of Bahrain and that the strong relationship allowed “full and frank discussion” of the issues at hand. The Bahrain government, meanwhile, has stated its intentions to improve human rights in the island nation. 

However, Labour MP Denis MacShane stated: “many will regret that the foreign secretary… has decided to include a representative of the Bahraini regime which has done such terrible things to its own people since the Arab awakening a year ago.”

Other contentious guests include the rulers of Swaziland, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, who have all faced criticism in recent times for repressive regimes and perceived human rights offences. Described by human rights campaigners as “royal tyrants”, their appearance has sparked outrage and disbelief from the public, placing the Queen in an uncomfortable position.

Protests are expected all over the capital. The Savoy Hotel, where Swaziland’s ruler Mswati is residing during his stay, has been picketed by the exile group Swazi Vigil. Demonstrators are also expected to stage protests outside Buckingham Palace and the Bahrain Embassy in London over Al Khalifa’s inclusion on the guest list. 

Sophie Mihell-Hale

Related Items

More in Current Affairs

Changes to expect during menopause

The editorial unit
Read More

Nek brings Italian pop rock to the Shepherd’s Bush Empire

The editorial unit
Read More

Why Equity Linked Savings Schemes is a preferred tax saving?

The editorial unit
Read More

How the world’s top designers would rebrand political parties

The editorial unit
Read More

Royal baby furore: Proof that the British monarchy is still popular?

Eoin O’Sullivan-Harris
Read More

World Mental Health Day 2018: Raising awareness and combating stigma

The editorial unit
Read More

Seven political personalities you should know about

The editorial unit
Read More

Donald Trump: An enemy of the arts?

The editorial unit
Read More

Trump’s fortune: Where did the money come from?

The editorial unit
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Detroit Stories – Alice Cooper
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Judas and the Black Messiah
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Laura Mvula – Under a Pink Moon
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Toll
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Black Bear
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Big vs Small
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • No táxi do Jack (Jack’s Ride): An interview with director Susana Nobre
    Berlinale
  • I’m Your Man (Ich bin dein Mensch): An interview with stars Dan Stevens and Maren Eggert
    Berlinale
  • I’m Your Man: An interview with Maria Schrader and Jan Schomburg
    Berlinale
  • I’m Your Man (Ich bin dein Mensch) press conference
    Berlinale
  • Moxie
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Souad
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • We (Nous)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Bicep at Saatchi Gallery Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Winter Lake
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Spanish queen snubs jubilee lunch over Gibraltar
Blind Chinese activist left China for the US