David and Victoria Beckham stepped out for date night during a surprise appearance at Buckingham Palace.
The couple matched in all-black looks as they held hands while attending a state banquet honoring the Amir of Qatar on Tuesday, December 3. David, 49, and Victoria, 50, were just two of the notable names in attendance as the royal family welcomed Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the United Kingdom. (BBC reported that the couple sat next to British politician Kemi Badenoch and Paris St-Germain football club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.)
According to U.K. outlet The Telegraph, David and Victoria’s attendance at the palace wasn’t announced prior to their arrival. However, the couple has a long-standing relationship with the royal family, so it’s no surprise that they would be invited to such a prestigious event.
While the celebrity couple showed face, Princess Kate Middleton was noticeably absent from the dinner. Kensington Palace had previously announced that the Princess of Wales would not attend. Kate, 42, appeared alongside husband Prince William earlier on Tuesday during the ceremonial welcome of the leader of Qatar to the country.
King Charles Encouraged Queen Camilla’s Time Off After ‘Working Too Hard’
Queen Camilla was missed during the initial welcome on Tuesday as she continues to recover from a chest infection but was photographed attending the white-tie dinner alongside husband King Charles III.
Buckingham Palace announced on November 5 that Camilla, 77, would be pulling out of several public-facing events due to the illness.
“Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest,” a spokesperson said at the time. “With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week, but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend’s Remembrance events as normal.”
Camilla has attended a few events over the last month but has still declined to make some appearances as she recovers. The palace offered a health update for the queen consort on Tuesday, revealing that she had been suffering a form of pneumonia.
Queen Camilla to Miss Royal Variety Performance Due to Chest Infection
She pulled out of the event welcoming Sheikh Tanim bin Hamad Al-Thani and his wife, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, due to post-viral symptoms, which include fatigue.
Camilla’s illness came after she and Charles, 76, took a trip to Australia and Samoa in late October. The couple concluded their week-long visit on October 26. In the weeks that followed, Camilla focused on the release of her documentary, Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors, which was released on November 11.
“It’s very moving, isn’t it?” Charles said of the film, which highlights Camilla’s work with domestic violence and sexual abuse survivors. “I am very proud of it. It reduced me to tears.”
