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'Visible security presence' for state visit

The Windsor Castle state visit will be the first for a Sultan of Oman in the UK since 1982.

'Visible security presence' for state visit

There will be a "visible and enhanced police and security presence" in Windsor next week for the state visit of the Sultan of Oman.

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik will be hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle from 20 October until 22 October.

Thames Valley Police's (TVP) Ch Supt Adrian Hall said airspace restrictions are part of the "robust security operation" that has been put in place.

"As a force, we have a vast amount of experience in policing Royal events in Windsor and significant planning and preparation has gone into this event," he added.

There is always a permanent airspace restriction around Windsor Castle.

On 20 October this will be extended from 07:00 BST until 00:00 to provide "enhanced security measures", TVP said.

The Sultan last visited the King in July 2025 for tea and a private meeting at Windsor Castle.

The last state visit for a Sultan of Oman to the UK happened in March 1982, when Queen Elizabeth II hosted Sultan Qaboos bin Said. He died in 2020.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead said road closures, between 09:00 and 15:00 on 19 October and 20 October, will include:

Castle Hill

B470 (including River Street, Thames Avenue, Datchet Road, King Edward VII Avenue and Windsor Road)

Barry Avenue

Thames Street

High Street

Park Street

Sheet Street

St Alban's Street

The council's following car parks will not be available between 07:00 and 17:00 on both days:

Home Park

King Edward VII Avenue

River Street

Romney Lock

All of its other car parks will be open as normal, it said.

The Thames Valley's police and crime commissioner Matthew Barber said in September that the region has been "short-changed" when Windsor has hosted previous state visits

In March, he said Thames Valley Police (TVP) would not be paid £900,000 for costs it incurred during Donald Trump's visit to Windsor Castle in September 2025.

The Home Office said it had reimbursed TVP for "additional police costs" for previous visits and would do so for others in the future.

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