King Charles and Queen Camilla are welcoming the Sultan of Oman to the U.K. for a state visit this week. However, the royal couple will host him at Windsor Castle instead of Buckingham Palace. The reason for the change is the ongoing renovation work at the King’s London residence.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are hosting Oman’s Sultan at Windsor Castle instead of Buckingham Palace
According to PEOPLE, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik will visit the U.K. from October 20 to October 22. While he has met King Charles several times before, including during a private visit to Britain in July 2025, this will be his first official state visit to the country. The last time an Omani sultan made a state visit to Britain was in March 1982, when Queen Elizabeth II welcomed Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
Buckingham Palace has been undergoing major renovations since April 2017. The work includes replacing old electrical systems, boilers, water tanks and pipes, some of which had not been updated since the 1950s.
A 2016 report estimated that the renovation project would cost around $487 million over 10 years. The aim is to update the palace’s facilities and keep the historic building in good condition for the next 50 years.
Although Buckingham Palace has continued to operate during the renovation work, state visits and their banquets have moved to Windsor Castle. The last state visit held at Buckingham Palace was in December 2024, when the Amir of Qatar visited the U.K.
Since then, Windsor Castle has hosted several state visits, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit in September 2025 and the Nigerian state visit in March 2026.
Windsor Castle is around 25 miles west of London and dates back to the 11th century. Built under William the Conqueror, it covers 13 acres and has more than 1,000 rooms. It is also the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.
Despite the ongoing renovations, Buckingham Palace remains an important part of royal life. King Charles will continue to hold official meetings there, and the palace will still host events such as Trooping the Colour.
For the Sultan of Oman’s visit, Windsor Castle will provide the setting for the three-day state visit while work continues at Buckingham Palace.
