King Charles will make his first state visit since ascending to the British throne when he receives South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
Charles, 74, has played a leading role in many of the last official visits of 112 foreign heads of state during his mother Queen Elizabeth’s record seven decades on the throne, but he will hold the traditional pomp and ceremony for the first time in his reign.
Elizabeth’s last state visit was that of former US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania in 2019.
Ramaphosa and his wife arrived on Monday but will be officially met the following morning by Charles’ eldest son and heir, Prince William and his wife Kate, at the official start of his two-day trip.
The visit will include a ceremonial meeting between the King and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, a carriage procession through the Mall to Buckingham Palace, where a grand banquet will be held in honor of the President.
Ramaphosa will also visit Westminster Abbey to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and see a memorial stone to former South African President Nelson Mandela.
He will also address lawmakers in Parliament and meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
“I look forward to welcoming President Ramaphosa to London this week to discuss how we can deepen the partnership between our two great countries and take advantage of shared opportunities ranging from trade and tourism to security and defence,” Sunak said in a statement earlier in the day. visit. .
The last state visit to Britain by a South African leader was President Jacob Zuma in 2010, when he was met by Charles and Camilla at the start of the trip.
