Muscat: As the Sultanate of Oman celebrated its 40th National Day in 2010, Queen Elizabeth II and the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrived in the Sultanate on November 25, 2010.
It was the second leg of her five-day state visit of the GCC.
The Queen was welcomed in Muscat by Late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, following which she was given the guard of honor.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague at the time said the visit was a very effective form of diplomacy.
Queen Elizabeth II, who left Oman on November 28, after a four-day visit also attended the horse racing events in Seeb.
The Queen was seen off by the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos at the Royal Airport in Seeb, ministers, and senior officials.
The Queen was accompanied by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and an official delegation that included the foreign secretary, William Hague, and the then British ambassador to Oman, Dr. Noel Guckian.
During her visit, the Queen and Late His Majesty the Sultan discussed a host of regional and international issues, including ways to boost bilateral relations.
She also signed two agreements, including a decision to do away with the need for visas, for those holding diplomatic or special passports from either country. Both leaders also agreed to establish a joint working group.
His Majesty the Sultan Qaboos gave the Queen two gifts, including a glittering 21-carat gold engraved vase and a Faberge-style egg.
Both sides also viewed a collection of paintings from the Tate and artworks by Thomas Gainsborough, George Stubbs, John Constable, J.M.W Turner, John Everett Millais, and John Singer Sargent.
The Queen had also Oman in 1979 when she sailed on board the royal yacht Britannia.
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