By Desire Emmanuel with Agency Reports
King Charles and Queen Camilla are hosting the first Nigerian state visit to the United Kingdom for 37 years, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife Oluremi Tinubu given a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle on Wednesday afternoon, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported.
At the start of the two-day visit, Tinubu and his wife were greeted by senior royals including the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The King and President Tinubu are expected to give speeches later Wednesday evening at the state banquet, which will be attended by political leaders and celebrities with links to Nigeria.
However, there will be no traditional lunch with the King at Windsor as the president is a Muslim and fasting for Ramadan.
President Tinubu and first lady, who arrived in the UK on Tuesday, were given the ceremonial grandeur of a royal welcome, with a carriage procession and then a military parade on the lawns inside Windsor Castle.
They were met by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, at the luxury spa hotel Fairmont Windsor Park before being escorted to the town to formally meet the King and Queen.
As the carriage procession carrying the King and president arrived into Windsor Castle’s quadrangle, they were met by a guard of honour and the band of the Grenadier Guards – which played the Nigerian and British national anthems as they travelled round the square.
In the spring sunshine, Tinubu then ceremonially inspected the troops on display, with King Charles walking a few steps behind.
During the visit, there will be exchanges of gifts and displays of items related to Nigeria that are kept in the Royal Collection, before a state banquet in St George’s Hall.
President Tinubu and his wife will lay a wreath of flowers on the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II, in St George’s Chapel.
The couple will also attend an interfaith event, designed to build bridges between religions.
On Thursday, Mrs Tinubu, who is also an ordained pastor, is set to preach at a service at Lambeth Palace and meet representatives from the Church of England.
