Who is the Emir of Qatar — and who are his three wives?

The Emir of Qatar and his wife were greeted by British royals at Horse Guards Parade and escorted to Buckingham Palace as their two-day visit to the UK began on Tuesday.

King Charles, the Prince and Princess of Wales participated in the welcoming ceremony for the emir with the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher.

But who is he and what is his role? Here is everything we know.

Who is the Emir of Qatar?

The Emir of Qatar is His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the reigning monarch and head of state of Qatar. As emir, he holds the country’s highest office, serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and custodian of Qatar’s constitution, ensuring the laws of the land are upheld.

Sheikh Tamim succeeded his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, in ascending to the throne in 2013. The transition marked a smooth generational shift in leadership.

Sheikh Tamim, 44, was born in Doha but has strong ties to the UK, having completed part of his education here. After finishing secondary school in Qatar, he attended Sherborne School in Dorset. Sheikh Tamim then moved to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, earning his commission in 1998.

Upon returning to Qatar, Sheikh Tamim served in the armed forces and was named heir apparent on August 5, 2003. Alongside this title, he became Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and began closely assisting his father in preparing for his future responsibilities as the country’s leader.

Who are his three wives and when did he marry them?

Here is a breakdown of the emir’s marriages:

1. Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani: Married in 2005, she is the emir's first wife and his second cousin. She is the most visible of his spouses, consistently attending royal duties and public events, both in Qatar and abroad. Sheikha Jawaher is the only wife with him on his UK trip.
2. Sheikha Al-Anoud bint Mana Al Hajri: The emir married Sheikha Al-Anoud on March 3, 2009. She is the daughter of Mana bin Abdul Hadi Al Hajri, a prominent figure who previously served as Qatar's ambassador to Jordan.
3. Sheikha Noora bint Hathal Al Dosari: His third marriage took place on February 25, 2014. Sheikha Noora maintains a low profile, with little public information about her role or appearances.

How many children does he have?

Sheikh Tamim has 13 children across his three marriages.

With Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani (four children):

With Sheikha Al-Anoud bint Mana Al Hajri (five children):

With Sheikha Noora bint Hathal Al Dosari (four children):

The emir's large family reflects Qatari royal traditions, with children playing prominent roles in the family lineage and state representation.