KUWAIT CITY, May 6: The British Ambassador to Kuwait, Belinda Lewis inaugurated the exhibition titled ‘The Visit of King Charles III to Kuwait 1993’ at the Kuwait National Library. Speaking on the occasion, the British envoy said the exhibition coincides with King Charles’s coronation anniversary and marking 125 years of Kuwait-Britain relations.

The exhibition commemorates the deep-rooted ties between Kuwait and Britain and underscores over a century of collaboration, emphasizing shared historical positions and mutual support in safeguarding sovereignty and fostering prosperity. Present at the event were Sheikha Hala Badr Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Kuwait National Library Director Siham Saad Al-Azmi. Sheikha Hala Al-Badr highlighted the significance of King Charles’s visit to Kuwait in 1993, shortly after the Iraqi invasion, noting the joy it brought to both Kuwaiti and British people. The exhibition showcases pivotal moments of the visit, including the ceremony where King Charles received the Mubarak Al-Kabeer necklace from the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, marking him as the first Crown Prince to receive this honor.

Reflecting on the visit’s impact, Sheikha Hala emphasized King Charles’s admiration for Kuwait’s resilience and progress, particularly in education, as evident during his tour of the British Council and interactions with Kuwaiti students. Expressing gratitude to the Kuwait National Library for facilitating the exhibition, Sheikha Hala extended congratulations to King Charles on the first anniversary of his coronation. Researcher Issa Yahya Dashti, curator of the exhibition, highlighted its portrayal of historical Kuwaiti-British relations, featuring 30 images capturing King Charles’s meetings and engagements during his visit.

Dashti underscored the significance of King Charles’s decoration with the Mubarak Al-Kabeer necklace, symbolizing the enduring bond between Kuwait and Britain. Director Siham Al-Azmi emphasized the exhibition’s timing, which with King Charles’s coronation anniversary and highlighted the recent efforts to strengthen cultural and diplomatic ties, including the symbolic planting of a friendship tree between the Kuwait National Library and the British Embassy.

Al-Azmi emphasized the role of the National Library in fostering cultural exchange and diplomatic relations with Kuwait’s international partners, underscoring the country’s commitment to promoting mutual understanding and cooperation on a global scale. British Ambassador Belinda Lewis praised the pictures that depict King Charles’ second official visit to Kuwait, which coincides with the one-year anniversary of his coronation as king. She added: “The pictures explain the strength of the relationship between the ruling families in both countries, which is clear from the expressions on their faces. It is also interesting to see pictures of people dating back three decades, including a picture of the former Kuwaiti ambassador to London, Khaled Al- Duwaisan, in addition to other pictures.”

To His Highness Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad… It is wonderful to see how people’s features have changed during these three decades.” She continued: “We are currently celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Kuwaiti-British partnership, and we are planning cultural and sporting events as the fall semester approaches,” refusing to reveal whether there are currently any high-level visits between the two countries.