King Charles III is set to host a state banquet for Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, marking the first UK state visit by a Nigerian leader in 37 years and the first by a Muslim leader during Ramadan in nearly a century. The two-day visit begins on Wednesday, with the King hosting the banquet at St George's Hall in Windsor Castle, attended by the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will greet the president and his wife at the Fairmont Windsor Park hotel on Wednesday morning, escorting them to meet the King and Camilla in Windsor town centre. The group will then travel in a carriage procession through Windsor to the castle's quadrangle for a ceremonial welcome, including a Guard of Honour. Thames Valley Police have deployed extensive security measures amid the ongoing Middle East crisis.
The visit comes less than a month after the King's brother, the Duke of York, was arrested on suspicion of sharing confidential reports with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Removal vans were seen at the Duke's new home on the King's Sandringham estate, prompting speculation of a relocation. The president and first lady arrived in the UK on Tuesday, despite suicide bombings in north-eastern Nigeria that killed 23 people. President Tinubu condemned the attacks, stating, 'Nigeria will not succumb to fear.'
As the visit falls during Ramadan, the programme has been adapted. President Tinubu will break his fast privately at sunset before attending the state banquet. The King will hold an audience with the president in the afternoon instead of the traditional lunch. The first lady, a Christian and ordained Pentecostal pastor, will join the King and president in meeting interfaith organisations at Windsor Castle.
The visit aims to strengthen UK-Nigeria business ties, coinciding with the announcement of hundreds of new jobs as Nigerian companies expand in the UK. The visit also follows the Duke of Sussex's quasi-royal tour to Nigeria in 2024, after Meghan Markle disclosed her Nigerian heritage. Mrs Tinubu later faced controversy over remarks about Meghan's outfits, though her office denied targeting the Duchess.
