THE QUEEN ACCEPTED A HELPING HAND FROM THE EMIR OF QATAR AFTER WELCOMING HIM TO WINDSOR CASTLE AT THE START OF A THREE-DAY STATE VISIT INTENDED TO CEMENT BRITAIN'S TRADE LINKS WITH THE GULF STATE. AFTER WATCHING A MARCH PAST OF THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY AND ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY SOLDIERS, SHEIK HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL THANI GUIDED THE QUEEN DOWN A SHORT FLIGHT OF STEPS FROM A DIAS. THE EMIR, WHO FLEW TO LONDON WITH HIS CONSORT, SHEIKA MOZAH BINT NASSER AL-MISSNED, ONE OF HIS THREE WIVES, WILL ALSO MET DAVID CAMERON IN DOWNING STREET AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DRIVE TO STRENGTHEN TRADE WITH QATAR AND OTHER GULF EMIRATES. QATAR, A BRITISH PROTECTORATE UNTIL 1971, IA A KEY ENERGY SUPPLIER TO THE UK, AND IS EVENTUALLY EXPECTED TO PROVIDE UP TO ONE FIFTH OF THE COUNTRY'S GAS SUPPLY IN THE FORM OF LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS, WHICH IS SHIPPED TO A TERMINAL IN MILFORD HAVEN, PEMBROKESHIRE. IT IS ALSO A MAJOR INVESTOR IN THE UK, WITH HIGH-PROFILE ASSETS INCLUDING THE HARRODS DEPARTMENT STORE IN LONDON, WHICH THE QATARI ROYAL FAMILY BOUGHT IN MAY FOR AN ESTIMATED £1.5 BILLION. THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL HAD A PRIVATE MEETING WITH THE EMIR AND HIS CONSORT BEFORE ESCORTING THEM TO WINDSOR CASTLE.
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