Muscat: The long-serving Omani employee at the British embassy, Soomar Kamal Al Zadjali, had his wish fulfilled when he got to meet Queen Elizabeth II Saturday morning during a community event at the British Ambassador, Dr Noel Guckian’s official residence here.
According to one of the 400-odd attendees, Al Zadjali greeted the British queen and also exchanged a few words. The driver to British Ambassador in Oman had also greeted Queen Elizabeth II during her first visit in 1979.
Al Zadjali was not available to comment on the moment he was waiting for since the visit of head of the Commonwealth was announced.
The Omani driver has worked under 11 holders of the post here in Muscat in last 40 years and he is due to retire at the end of this year. Earlier this month Al Zadjali was awarded MBE at a special function held at the British embassy in Muscat.
The community event was attended by British expatriates as well as prominent Omani citizens.
The monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh were due to watch in the evening the Royal Cavalry Horse Show, featuring around 800 horses, in Seeb.
Meanwhile, Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed presented the Queen with a Faberge-style musical egg and a gold vase during the state banquet the Omani leader hosted in her honour at the Al Alam Palace on Friday night.
In return, Queen Elizabeth gave the Sultan the Royal Victorian Chain, a personal honour reserved for her inner circle.
Ross Cormac, Nawras Telecom company CEO, who also attended the community event at the British ambassador's official residence, was enthused by the occasion. "Her Majesty was radiant and it was a beautiful, elegant occasion - reminiscent of an English summer wedding with everyone in their finery as well as wonderful music and singing and even a bagpiper stationed at the top of the cliff, adding to the exciting occasion," he told Gulf News afterwards.
