King Abdullah II of Jordan visited Britain's King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on Thursday during a stop in London before he heads to the US.
The two heads of state embraced at King Charles's official London residence, where Jordan's Royal Hashemite Court said they discussed "the historical friendship between the two kingdoms and ways to consolidate it". King Abdullah is next heading to Washington and Boston on a US trip.
It is the second meeting in three months between the monarchs, after King Abdullah visited Britain's Windsor Castle in November. On that occasion, King Charles gave him a silver beaker to mark 25 years since his accession to the Jordanian throne. King Charles visited Jordan five times as heir, most recently in 2021.
King Abdullah's 2024 Windsor Castle visit - in pictures
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King Abdullah II of Jordan was a guest of Britain's King Charles III at Windsor Castle in Berkshire for tea on Thursday November 7, 2024. PA -
King Charles presented King Abdullah with a silver beaker to celebrate his 25 years on the throne of Jordan. Getty Images -
King Abdullah is greeted by King Charles as he arrives at Windsor Castle. The meeting of the monarchs was accompanied by a guard of honour and the playing of the British and Jordanian national anthems. PA -
King Abdullah, accompanied by King Charles, inspects the guard of honour from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards at Windsor Castle. AP -
Members of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards take their leave after performing a guard of honour for King Abdullah at Windsor Castle. Reuters -
Members of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, march into the quadrangle before performing a guard of honour for King Abdullah. PA
King Abdullah has repeatedly used trips to Europe to press for a resolution to the fighting in the Middle East. As a politically neutral monarch, King Charles has avoided commenting publicly on the conflict except to speak of the "heartbreaking loss of life" after the Israel-Gaza war broke out in October 2023.
During his visit in November, King Abdullah also issued a joint warning with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer about escalating violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Mr Starmer has praised Jordan for its "leadership in the region".
