241 Years of Royal Friendship: Bahrain Marks King Charles' Birthday

His Highness Shaikh Isa Attends UK Embassy Celebration Honouring HM King Charles III's 76th Birthday

Mahir Haneef

TDT| Manama

His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa bin Salman Education Charitable Trust and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), graced the British Embassy's celebration in Manama on Wednesday, marking the 76th birthday of His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Affirming the enduring relations between Bahrain and the United Kingdom, which have flourished for over 200 years, His Highness acknowledged the ongoing advancement of these ties. H.H. emphasized the shared commitment to strengthening multisectoral collaboration to fulfil the aspirations of both kingdoms and their peoples.

Conveying heartfelt greetings, His Highness extended congratulations from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to King Charles III. H.H expressed their wishes for continued progress and prosperity for the people of the United Kingdom. Additionally, His Highness offered his personal greetings and best wishes to HM King Charles III, highlighting the deep-rooted relations between the royal families and noting the solidifying bilateral partnership across various sectors.

British Ambassador to Bahrain, His Excellency Alastair Long, alongside his wife Victoria, welcomed His Highness Shaikh Isa to the grand reception held in the Embassy gardens. In his remarks, Ambassador Long expressed gratitude for His Highness's personal support in strengthening UK-Bahrain relations.

"We are two island kingdoms connected through millennia of contact and friendship. Our contemporary royal families have been enduring friends for 241 years," Ambassador Long said. "Just nine days ago, King Charles welcomed His Majesty King Hamad to Windsor Castle for a dinner to celebrate His Majesty's Silver Jubilee. As a kingdom, we might know how special a jubilee is, and we might also know a special king. Our kings are friends, kindred spirits, whose concerns are shared - for the young, for nature, for heritage, for peace, for harmony among people of different faiths and backgrounds, and for forgiveness. Both are benevolent by instinct and driven to look after their people and good causes."

H.E. the Ambassador praised the historical and modern relationship that binds the two kingdoms, which continues to move from strength to strength. "Our vibrant, deep, and exceptional partnership has been able to move quickly on the path of growth and prosperity to broader horizons in all fields with the blessings and guidance of our two kings’ exemplary visions and the strong people-to-people links between both kingdoms," Ambassador Long added.

Special Tribute to HM King

A special tribute was made to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, congratulating him on his Silver Jubilee of ascending to the throne. Bahraini schoolchildren featured in a short film, extending their well-wishes to His Majesty.

The celebration was attended by government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, media representatives, and members of Bahrain's vibrant business and civic communities.

Attendees enjoyed short films highlighting the strong and longstanding relationship between the two kingdoms and paying tribute to HM King Charles III as the UK's Head of State. The visuals showcased His Majesty's decades-long commitment to environmental and sustainable development causes, the arts, healthcare, charitable work, and education.

H.E. Ambassador Long expressed his appreciation to the event's sponsors, including BlueWater Bio, Standard Chartered, BAE Systems, University of Salford – Manchester, British University of Bahrain, KPMG, Willis, AVL Concepts, HSBC, This is Bahrain, G4S, and Kingdom Landscape, acknowledging that the event was made possible by their generous support.

Several senior officials were also present at the event, underscoring the significance of the occasion in reinforcing the enduring bonds between Bahrain and the United Kingdom. The evening concluded with a mutual commitment to continue building on the rich history of collaboration and friendship between the two nations.