King Charles III on Wednesday received President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu at Windsor Castle.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that King Charles III received Tinubu in the first official state visit by a Nigerian leader to the United Kingdom in 37 years.
This comes after Tinubu and his wife landed in the UK on Tuesday. While the visit is historic, many Nigerians had questioned the timing, particularly after it came hours after a deadly Borno State bombing.
The ceremonial welcome commenced in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle, where the Nigerian first couple was greeted by the King and Queen Camilla, alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Amidst the sounding of a 42-gun salute by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, President Tinubu inspected a Guard of Honour formed by the Coldstream Guards.
Before that, Prince William and Princess Catherine met and greeted the Nigerian leader and his wife at the Fairmont Hotel before the short ride to Windsor Castle, where King Charles III hosted them.
There was also an exchange of gifts and a display of items related to Nigeria that are kept in the Royal Collection.
Afterwards, there will be a banquet where Tinubu and King Charles are expected to give speeches. Leaders and celebrities are expected to attend the event.
The president and his wife are expected to lay a wreath of flowers on the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II in St George’s Chapel.
They will also meet with organisations engaged in interfaith dialogue.
On Thursday, Tinubu is expected to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as well as members of the Nigerian community abroad, according to the official schedule. King Charles hosted a reception last week for members of the Nigerian diaspora at St James’s Palace.
The state visit provides Britain and Nigeria, which already have a strong diplomatic relationship, a chance to discuss security and trade, as well as governance issues ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Remi Tinubu, a pastor, is set to preach at services at Lambeth Palace and to meet representatives of the Church of England.
Mrs. Tinubu, an ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), will preach at the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Lambeth Palace serves as the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury and is a central site for the Church of England.
According to details of the official itinerary published by AFP, the First Lady will also meet with representatives of the Church of England during the visit.
