The Princess of Wales will represent King Charles alongside Prince William as they welcome the President and First Lady of Nigeria for a state visit next week. The two-day event, beginning on Wednesday, marks the first state visit of 2026 and the first by a Nigerian president in 37 years.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu will arrive in London on Tuesday before being formally welcomed by the Prince and Princess of Wales on behalf of the monarch. The couple will greet the Nigerian leader at the Fairmont Hotel in Windsor, followed by a ceremonial welcome at Datchet Road.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will then formally welcome the dignitaries at the Royal Dais in Home Park, Windsor, with a Royal Salute fired at the Tower of London. The group will proceed in a carriage procession to Windsor Castle, where a Guard of Honour will perform a Royal Salute and play the national anthems of both nations.
Later, Charles and Camilla will host a special exhibition of Nigerian-related items from the Royal Collection, followed by a State Banquet at St George’s Hall. The King and President will deliver speeches during the banquet. On Thursday, President Tinubu will bid farewell to the King before meeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London.
The visit underscores the strong ties between the UK and Nigeria, with King Charles having visited Nigeria four times as Prince of Wales. The two leaders previously met at the COP28 summit in Dubai in 2023 and at Buckingham Palace in September 2024.
