It’s tradition for the heir to the throne and their wife to welcome dignitaries conducting a state visit and travel with them to Horseguards Parade for an official welcome from the monarch. William and Kate have performed this role ever since he became Prince of Wales – but the Princess’ ill health meant she was unable to take part in a visit from the Emperor and Empress of Japan in June, when she was still receiving chemotherapy treatment.

After they are formally introduced to Charles and Camilla, the Emir and his wife will be treated to a royal salute and a rendition of the Qatari national anthem. Then, Tamim and Jawaher will join both the King, Queen, William and Kate in a carriage procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where they will be met by a second guard of honour formed of First Battalion Welsh Guards with the Band of the Irish Guards.

It’s understood that Kate will take part in a lunch held at the Palace, but will not be attending a glittering state banquet that evening. That’s to be expected; the Princess will no doubt want to conserve her energy for later that same week, when she will be host her annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey. Nonetheless, a royal source told MailOnline that Kate’s active participation in the Qataris’ state visit – her most significant royal undertaking for months – surely spells ‘good news’ for her recovery.

It’s no wonder the Princess has apparently made this most important occasion a priority, given that Tamim and Jawaher have such a special relationship with the UK. The Emir is something of an anglophile, and was educated at both Sherborne and Harrow before attending Sandhurst, like so many British royals. So enamoured is Tamim of Britain that he once put in a £4 billion bid to buy Manchester United and has made huge investments in London, including in the Shard, Harrods and the InterContinental London Park Lane. He also owns a string of properties in the UK – including two houses on Cornwall Terrace overlooking Regent’s Park, otherwise known as the most expensive row of houses in the world.