Royal visit will 'reinforce' ties

Charles and Camilla's visit will last 10 days

A tour of Gulf states by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will strengthen the UK's alliances in the region, Clarence House said.

The couple's trip, beginning on Monday, will take in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

It is likely to be the last major engagement for Camilla before she has a hysterectomy operation.

A Clarence House statement said the visit "will reinforce Britain's friendship with key allies".

The statement continued: "It will advance key British Government priorities in the promotion of moderate Islam, military co-operation, environmental protection and energy security.

"To this end the tour will include extensive meetings with the ruling families, senior religious leaders, military personnel, business leaders and educationalists."

The visit is scheduled to last 10 days.

Charles has travelled to the region on a number of occasions, most recently last year to Kuwait following the death of the country's Amir and in 2004 to the UAE for the funeral of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nanyan.