London: The King of Bahrain has given the Queen a political headache by accepting her invitation to attend her Diamond Jubilee lunch at Windsor Castle next month.
The decision will anger human rights groups opposed to his bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
As a matter of royal protocol, the Queen was obliged to invite the king, along with other crowned heads from around the world, to her celebratory lunch on May 18, as revealed by The Mail on Sunday three weeks ago.
While some may have hoped the king, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, would decline the invitation to spare the Queen embarrassment, sources have now confirmed that he has formally accepted.
It is also understood the king has been invited to a champagne dinner to be hosted by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace that evening.
The news will be heavily criticised by human rights activists as well as MPs who are appalled at the Gulf state’s brutal crackdown on the pro-democracy demonstrations, which has seen live bullets and tear gas used by riot police.
Many believe the king, who is trying to reassert the authority of the Sunni monarchy, should never have been invited.
Bahrain is in a state of civil unrest as protesters attempt to overthrow the king.
Pro-democracy groups have been taking to the streets since February last year and more than 50 civilians have been killed during the demonstrations, while thousands more have been arrested.
News of the acceptance of the invitation to the lunch to celebrate the Queen’s 60 years on the Throne ahead of the main celebrations in June comes only a week after Bahrain hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix last Sunday.
Race bosses came under pressure to cancel because of the regime’s bloody behaviour, but the event went ahead.
The king’s acceptance of the Queen’s invitation will no doubt be seen as another victory for the Bahrain monarchy, which has direct control of the police, army and security services.
A source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The King of Bahrain has accepted the Queen’s invitation to lunch on May 18 and is therefore expected.’
Buckingham Palace last night declined to be drawn into the row over the invitation. A spokesman said: ‘We won’t be confirming attendance until on the day.’
There was a similar outcry when the King of Bahrain’s son, the Crown Prince, was invited to the Royal Wedding a year ago today.
Again, all crowned heads were invited as a matter of protocol, but human rights activists had threatened to disrupt Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s stay and he decided to pull out only days before the wedding.
But whether his father cancels coming to Windsor Castle at the 11th hour remains to be seen.
His country is still gripped by tension – last month the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights published a report looking at violence inside the kingdom since November, finding at least 30 cases where people had died after confrontations with police or security forces.
The report found that a 14-year-old boy bled to death on New Year’s Eve after being struck in the neck by a tear-gas canister while one woman was killed after being attacked by protesters.
Most of the other victims reportedly died after inhaling tear gas, which is regularly fired at the demonstrators.
The Bahrain government says it is committed to reform and is fighting opposition groups it says are being funded from abroad.
