Victoria and David Beckham make surprise appearance at Buckingham Palace banquet
Victoria and David Beckham had a royal night out in London as they took part in Britain's diplomatic efforts at Buckingham Palace.
On Tuesday night, the couple made what was reportedly a surprise appearance during a state banquet welcoming Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and his wife Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani to the king and queen's royal residence.
Per The Telegraph, this was the former U.K. soccer star's first time at a state banquet. He and Victoria Beckham have had a longtime relationship with the British royal family, with both having received the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire. USA TODAY has reached out to David Beckham's representative for comment.
Previously, in October, David Beckham joined Prince William in celebrating successful fundraising for London's Air Ambulance Charity.
The emir and his wife arrived in London on Monday at the invitation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and their visit ended Wednesday. On Tuesday, Prince William and Princess Kate kicked off the day by greeting the emir and Sheikha Jawaher and traveling with them to the Horse Guards Parade, where the king offered a ceremonial welcome.
Later, the royals and their guests partook in a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace, where they had a private lunch with Queen Camilla, who was absent from the outdoor event as she continues to recover from a chest infection.
Camilla and Princess Kate, 42, were both absent during some of the festivities. Kate, the Princess of Wales, has gradually returned to royal duties since completing chemotherapy treatment in September. Camilla, 77, reportedly attended the banquet but has made few public appearances since becoming ill.
Charles, 76, is also battling cancer, though specifics about his diagnosis have not been made public.
At the start of the lavish state banquet, which was also attended by politicians and other celebrities, Charles thanked the emir for his country's efforts in mediating a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.
"Qatar's continued toil, perseverance and diplomatic efforts are, quite simply, beyond compare," Charles said.
Some groups, including Human Rights Watch, have criticized the emir's state visit to Britain. "The king is rolling out the red carpet for the emir of Qatar even though he leads a country where male guardianship policies and other discriminatory laws against women continue, and where LGBT individuals face discrimination," the organization's U.K. director Yasmine Ahmed said.
According to the royal family's website, state visits are semiannual events that help build relationships with other countries in early summer and in the winter. The emir also addressed both chambers of the Houses of Parliament during his visit.
Contributing: Sarah Young, Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Victoria and David Beckham make surprise appearance at royal banquet
