Oman ruler meets British royals in rare appearance

07 Nov, 2016

Oman's Sultan Qaboos held talks with Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, in his first announced meeting with foreign dignitaries nearly seven months after a medical check-up in Germany.
Qaboos, who has ruled the Gulf sultanate since 1970, has reduced his public activities since having treatment in 2014 for what diplomats have said is colon cancer.
On April 12, the sultan returned from Germany after the medical check-up on his progress following lengthy treatment there in 2014 and 2015.
He has rarely appeared in public, and this is the first time he is known to have received foreign dignitaries since April.
Late on Saturday, the official Oman News Agency reported that he had received the Prince of Wales and the Dutchess of Cornwall at a palace in Muscat.
The royals discussed "cooperation between their countries in various sectors to achieve the joint interests of the Omani and British people" as well as ways to strengthen relations between them.
Prince Charles arrived with his wife and other British officials on Friday for a three-day visit to Oman.
The couple are expected in Oman's neighbour, the United Arab Emirates, on Sunday.
The sultan's ill health and repeated hospital spells in Germany have focused attention on the fact that he has no designated successor.
Qaboos is unmarried and has no children or brothers, meaning his cousins are his closest relatives.

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