Royals LIVE: Latest updates as Kate plays significant role in Qatar state visit while Queen Camilla scales back duties

The Prince and Princess of Wales have sent a message of support to Kevin Sinfield – who is this week taking part in a gruelling charity challenge for his beloved late friend Rob Burrow.

Prince William took to social media to film a heartwarming clip from him and Kate Middleton, as he wished The England rugby union coach ‘good luck’.

Kevin will run seven ultramarathons across seven cities in seven successive days, setting off for his fifth annual fundraiser for motor neurone disease causes today. It is his first since his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob died of MND in June.

‘Kevin Catherine and I just want to wish you the very best of luck for what’s going to be a very gruelling week raising money and awareness around MND,’ William said in the video, shared on X.

‘What you and rob have achieved has been incredible. It’s a very fitting tribute to his legacy, what you’re achieving again this week.

‘I’m sure you’ll be running with him in your mind the whole way round, so the very best of luck from Catherine and I. We’ll be thinking of you all week. Good luck.’

• Read Elmira Tanatarova’s story here

The Princess of Wales has shared a behind-the-scenes video from the festive prep taking place ahead of her annual Christmas carol service this week.

Taking to social media, the royal’s X account with Prince William revealed a clip featuring invites being printed and prepped for the event.

Two weeks ago Kensington Palace announced that the Princess will host the Together At Christmas concert on December 6 with performances from Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean and Gregory Porter.

Footage showed the piece of paper being packaged into an envelope and sent away via mailbox.

‘Invites are well on their way ahead of our Together at Christmas Carol Service!’ the caption read, while a seasonal jingle played in the background.

• Read Elmira Tanatarova’s story here

The Royal Family’s official X account has posted a video explaining what happens during a state visit to the UK ahead of welcoming Qatar on a two-day trip starting today.

The clip tells people why visits are organised and what happens when it is carried out.

LGBT campaigners will protest outside Buckingham Palace against the Qatar state visit this morning over what is described as a ‘homophobic dictatorship’

The Peter Tatchell Foundation said will demonstrate when the Emir arrives in the State Coach.

Pliny Soocoormanee, Executive Officer of Peter Tatchell Foundation, said:

Qatar is a homophobic, sexist dictatorship where basic human rights are trampled on. LGBTQ+ people face persecution, imprisonment and even the death penalty. Women continue to be treated as second-class citizens. This is not a regime to be celebrated or given the honour of a State Visit.

By turning up, we send a powerful message: Britain must not turn a blind eye to the human rights abuses carried out by the Qatari regime. Silence in the face of oppression is complicity.

These pictures show the moment the Emir of Qatar touched down at Stansted Airport on Monday ahead of the country’s UK state visit.

The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Sheikha Jawaher, arrive at Stansted Airport

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has reigned since 2013

His wife Sheikha Jawaher watches on as they are driven away from the airport

Members of the RAF attended the arrival in Essex

Queen Camilla will be absent from some of today’s state visit as she is still suffering from the ‘lingering’ side effects of a ‘nasty viral chest infection’.

Her diagnosis was first announced on November 5 when it emerged that she had been forced to pull out of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, followed by other events over the weekend, including the Cenotaph, to honour the nation’s war dead.

As the daughter of a twice-decorated World War Two veteran such duties are taken very seriously by the Queen and her absence was a sign of how poorly she was feeling, sources close to the Camilla told the Mail.

She has undertaken several public engagements since then, including the annual diplomatic reception, but has sometimes curtailed her time spent in public.

At a reception to honour the UK’s film and television industry last month the Queen discreetly coughed several times during her shortened appearance and gratefully sipped on a glass of water, saying she had felt ‘absolutely rotten’ last week but was definitely ‘on the mend’.

Sources have stressed there has been ‘no alteration’ in any diagnosis or treatment being received, stressing Her Majesty just needs time to ‘rest and recover fully, which is more challenging with a back-to back diary programme such as the State Visit’.

No substantial changes to her other diary commitments are expected the rest of the week, though each day is being taken as it comes.

Royal-watchers will be delighted at the news that Catherine is taking a further step forward as part of her staggered return to full-time royal duties.

In September she spoke of her ‘relief’ at having finally completed her chemotherapy treatment, but stressed that the last nine months had been ‘incredibly tough’ for them as a family.

She was first admitted to hospital in January for what has only been described as major abdominal surgery.

However afterwards doctors found evidence that cancer had been present and recommended a course of preventative chemotherapy.

The couple chose to keep the news private for several weeks in order to come to terms with the news and protect their children, before the princess bravely went public with her diagnosis in March.

Talking of the ‘complex, scary and unpredictable nature’ of cancer journeys, Catherine said recently that doing what she could to ‘stay cancer free is now my focus’ and emphasised that her path to full recovery would be ‘long’.

The princess said she would undertake a few more public engagements in the coming months when she could but stressed that her focus would remain on her continued recovery and her young family.

• Read our timeline of Kate’s road to recovery here

The Emir, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani landed in the UK at Stansted Airport on Monday alongside his wife Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad Al Thani.

They were greeted on behalf of the sovereign by the Lord in Waiting, The Viscount Hood.

Later today they will be officially welcomed by the Prince and Princess of Wales at their residence, before being escorted to Horse Guards Parade where the King and Queen Camilla will be waiting for an impressive ceremonial welcome.

National anthems will be played and the Emir invited to inspect a Guard of Honour.

The royal party will then return in a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace for a private lunch followed by an exhibition in the Picture Gallery of items from the Royal Collection Trust and Turquoise Mountain charity relating to Qatar.

Prince William will later receive the Emir at Kensington Palace before the evening’s State Banquet, which he will attend but not his wife.

The princess has attended a number of high profile events such as Trooping the Colour, Remembrance Sunday and Wimbledon over the last eleven months since she effectively withdrew from public life to focus on her health.

Senior Qatari diplomats have told the Mail that they are ‘deeply honoured’ the King has chosen their country as the first Middle Eastern state to be invited for a full state visit to the UK since Charles’ accession.

The country enjoys a good relationship with the UK diplomatically, with the Emir, 44, having studied in Britain – first at Sherborne and then Harrow – followed by a stint at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.

There remains great admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth, and King Charles has met with the Emir on several occasions.

The two countries also have strong trade, cultural and military links, and Qatar is a major investor in the UK, not just through property and construction projects, but in science and technology.

However concerns have been raised about the authoritarian nature of the Qatari ruling family and human rights, particularly as regards migrant workers.

The Emir, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, will be bringing his first wife -and second cousin – Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad Al Thani, with him on the visit.

She is the mother of four of his 13 children and normally accompanies him on official visits abroad. He also has two subsequent spouses.

The 77-year-old royal – who first fell ill at the beginning of November – is said to be feeling particularly ‘fatigued’ and has pulled out of the ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade on doctor’s advice.

However she will still attend a lunch to honour the Qatari ruler and his wife at Buckingham Palace and will attend most elements of the State Banquet in the evening.

So as not to exhaust her, she will greet their VIP guests and pose for photographs before retiring during a lengthy receiving line but then join the dinner itself.

Sources were stressing there was no cause for alarm, describing her as having had a ‘nasty viral chest infection’ which continues to ‘have some lingering side effects, in particular leaving Her Majesty with significantly diminished reserves of energy.’

As a result, they said, her doctors have advised some ‘tweaks’ to her programme.

She will also take part in an official welcome on Horse Guards and a carriage procession back to Buckingham Palace.

And it has now been confirmed that she also will join the royal party for a private lunch at the monarch’s official residence and stay to view a display of priceless Qatari artefacts from the Royal Collection afterwards.

The only aspect of the day she will miss will be tonight’s glittering State Banquet.

A royal source described the announcement of her attendance as ‘good news’ as the princess continues with her a slow and measured return to public life after the completion of her preventative chemotherapy treatment.

Catherine announced in March that she had embarked on a gruelling course of cancer treatment after doctors found evidence of the disease following major abdominal surgery in January.

In September she revealed that this had now been completed but warned that it would take time and patience for her to return to full-time royal duties as she continued on her slow road to recovery.