King Charles hosts first state visit
THE King’s reign has passed another milestone with Charles welcoming a foreign leader for an official state visit for the first time.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa was warmly greeted by the monarch and the Queen Consort on a chilly Horse Guards Parade as he began a two-day state visit to the UK. National figures had gathered in the royal pavilion for the pomp and pageantry of the ceremonial welcome with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined by senior members of the Cabinet, as well as the Lord Mayor of London, Nicholas Lyons, and the Defence Chiefs of Staff.
The Prince and Princess of
Wales were part of events for the first time, travelling to Mr Ramaphosa’s luxury hotel in nearby central London and accompanying him to Horse Guards Parade for the start of the ceremonial welcome.
More than 1,000 soldiers and over 230 horses took part in the ceremonial event.
Former President Donald
Trump’s state visit in 2019 was the most recent by a world leader but his welcome was staged in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, so the official visit by King Willemalexander of the Netherlands in 2019 was the last time a full ceremonial welcome was staged on Horse Guards Parade.