Charles the first
Late Queen & Mandela honoured at maiden state visit for new King
THE King paid tribute to the late Queen and her bond with Nelson Mandela as he hosted his first state visit as monarch yesterday.
Charles welcomed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and, at a state banquet, revealed that Mr Mandela had a nickname for his mother. He said: “President Mandela told me that he had conferred on my mother a special name – Motlalepula, meaning ‘to come with rain’.
“I have been reassured that this was a mark of the particular affection President Mandela felt for the Queen... rather than a remark on the British habit of taking our weather with us.”
At the Buckingham Palace banquet, the Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales and the Countess of Wessex all wore the Royal Family Order featuring a portrait of the late Queen.
The lavish menu included mains of grilled brill with wild mushrooms, truffles and sorrel sauce or ballotine of Windsor pheasant filled with artichokes and quince compote.
Kate, who with Prince William had earlier officially welcomed Mr Ramaphosa to London, wore a Jenny Packham dress and a diamond and pearlencrusted tiara, one of Diana’s favourites. More than 1,000 soldiers, seven military bands and two state coaches were at London’s Horse Guards Parade for Mr Ramaphosa’s arrival.
In nearby Green Park, 41 volleys were fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and 62 at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company. At Buckingham Palace Charles took Mr Ramaphosa on a tour of Royal Collection items relating to South Africa on display at the sovereign’s headquarters.
Both men voiced their mutual admiration for the late freedom fighter and South African President Nelson Mandela and the late Queen. The President will today visit Kew Gardens with the Earl of Wessex and meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.