At a fundraising event a few years ago, I had a conversation with the Princess Royal in which we discussed how the Queen had been prohibited from visiting Israel by the Foreign Office. 

Princess Anne and I agreed that it was profoundly sad that Her Majesty – as someone who was deeply religious and God-fearing – never walked down the Via Dolorosa into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, or visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, or experienced the peace and tranquillity of the Sea of Galilee. 

The Foreign Office is notorious for its outdated views on Middle Eastern affairs, specifically in relation to Israel and its neighbouring Arab states. 

In a famous clip from Yes, Prime Minister, in response to the Prime minister’s call to “defend democracy” during an international conflict, Sir Humphrey Appleby responds: “Not if it harms British interests by upsetting those we wish to keep as friends.” 

Whilst this was a satire of Foreign Office policy, it articulated the underlying truth of how it approaches the Middle East even today. 

The Foreign Office’s position has always been that the Head of State will not visit Israel until a final peace agreement is made with the Palestinians. The result of this is that the Jewish state is penalised because the other side refuses to come to the table and negotiate peace. 

Whilst the Foreign Office could argue there was no ban on a royal visit, it was tantamount to the same thing.  

Prince William visited Israel in 2018 as part of an official tour on behalf of the Government. Whilst this perhaps represented the beginning of change at the Foreign Office, it was too late for Her Majesty. Furthermore, officials unsuccessfully tried to scupper the visit. 

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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visits the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City, on June 28, 2018, for an official visit to Israel. (Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

The Foreign Office is out of touch when it comes to new friendships that have been forged across the Middle East. 

Two years ago this month, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United States signed the Abraham Accords establishing the normalisation of relations, the first since 1994. 

Following from this first agreement, Sudan and Morocco both signed the Accords and there is talk of Oman and Saudi Arabia being the next to join the agreement. 

This Thursday marks the second anniversary of the initial signing of the Abraham Accords agreement in Washington. This is a momentous achievement, which many previously thought an impossibility. However, none of this progress happened as a result of Britain’s efforts. 

During a debate on the Abraham Accords held in the House of Commons last October, Robert Jenrick MP posed the question: “What is the role for the United Kingdom, and for our Government in particular, in taking this forward?” 

This question is one that I asked former Foreign Secretary – and now Prime minister – Liz Truss. I pose the same one now to our newly-appointed Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly. 

During the entirety of the Abraham Accord discussions, Britain was not just missing from the room, but it was not even in the same building. 

This is especially disheartening considering the great influence we should have made through our strongly embedded ties with the Gulf States, encouraging other neighbouring states to join the agreement. 

 Mr Jenrick highlighted this point to the Foreign Office, when he warned that we must not “underestimate the profound change in the relationships that underpins those accords.” 

It was a powerful reminder to the Foreign Office that the political landscape had drastically changed over the past few years and it was high time that Britain got on board. 

In the same debate, Mr Cleverly responded to Mr Jenrick, celebrating the achievement of the Abraham Accords and committing to progressing the peace process. 

“I look forward to working closely with my opposite numbers in the UAE, Bahrain and Israel, and, indeed, any other country that wishes to join and support the normalisation of relations, and bring peace, strength and stability to the region,” he said. 

It would be very welcome if the new Foreign Secretary would honour this commitment and move Britain into a more active position in relation to the Abraham Accords. 

It was a sad loss for the Queen that she was never able to visit Israel, and a sad loss to the people of Israel that they were never graced with Her Majesty's presence. 

With the current huge shifts in the Middle Eastern political landscape, the Foreign Office should grasp the opportunity to reassess its policy on Israeli-Arab relations, roll up its sleeves and get stuck in to make positive and practical steps to build upon the exciting progress that has already been made. 

On Monday, the Queen’s funeral will take place. The whole country mourns the loss of our beloved monarch and all that she symbolised. Yehi zichra baruch—may Her Majesty’s memory be for a blessing.