King Charles welcomes S.Africa president as hosts first state visit of reign
London: King Charles III. holds his first state visit as monarch next week, welcoming South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his wife to Buckingham Palace.
The last state visit to the UK was in June 2019 when Queen Elizabeth II hosted US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania.
Charles is yet to announce where he will be going on his first visit abroad as king, and this was the first invitation he has extended since he succeeded his late mother in September.
Most recently, Ramaphosa attended the Queen’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London in September.
His state visit comes more than a decade after the last by a South African leader when Jacob Zuma came to the UK in 2010.
Ramaphosa arrives on Monday before a formal program including a state banquet at Buckingham Palace begins on Tuesday.
Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will be in charge of welcoming Ramaphosa and First Lady Tshepo Motsepe, but will also see the visiting couple meet other senior royals.
Heir apparent Prince William and his wife Kate, Princess of Wales will take him to Charles and Camilla for a ceremonial military reception.
Charles’ youngest brother Prince Edward was also recruited to accompany Ramaphosa to London’s Kew Gardens and biomedical research centre.
