The President of Nigeria was welcomed to Windsor this week as part of a landmark visit to the United Kingdom.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, were received by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle as part of a three-day visit.
The visit marks the first time a foreign leader has been hosted at Windsor Castle this year and comes as state occasions continue to be held outside London while Buckingham Palace undergoes refurbishment.
The President and First Lady arrived at London Stansted Airport on Tuesday, before being greeted by William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales, at the Fairmont Hotel Windsor on Wednesday morning.
They then travelled to Datchet Road, where they were formally welcomed by the King and Queen with a ceremonial reception, including a royal salute in Home Park and the playing of the Nigerian national anthem.
A carriage procession carried the royal party into the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle, where a guard of honour was mounted.
The King and President travelled together in the Australian State Coach, while the Queen and Mrs Tinubu followed in the Scottish State Coach.
During the ceremony, President Tinubu inspected the guard of honour alongside the King and watched a military march-past.
The visit also included a private audience between the King and the President, as well as a special exhibition of items relating to Nigeria from the Royal Collection displayed in the Green Drawing Room.
They met organisations working in interfaith dialogue at Vicars’ Hall, and later, the President and First Lady visited St George’s Chapel, where they laid a wreath at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II.
A state banquet was held at Windsor Castle in the evening, with both the King and the President delivering speeches.
In his speech, the King said: “We in the United Kingdom are blessed that so many people of Nigerian heritage, having chosen Britain as their home, are now at the heart of British life through excelling at the highest levels of business, technology, academia, law, science, sport, literature and the arts, and public service.”
He added: “Whether they are Nigerians who have chosen Britain as their adopted place to invest, trade or study, or Britons who cherish their personal connection to Nigeria, they all represent a living bridge of over half a million people who connect our nations, and help make our cultures richer, our shared security stronger and our economies more prosperous.
“We are proud that so many great examples of this living bridge join us this evening.”
Gifts were exchanged during the visit, with the King presenting a signed photograph and handcrafted pottery.
President Tinubu gifted an Eyo statuette symbolising Yoruba tradition, and Mrs Tinubu gave a ‘Matriarchs of Nigeria’ jewellery box, with the faces of powerful and important Nigerian women.
Today (Thursday), the President and First Lady bade farewell to The King and Queen and travelled to London, where they laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey.
The President will visit 10 Downing Street for a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Meanwhile, the First Lady will visit Lambeth Palace to meet faith leaders and charity representatives involved in work in Nigeria.
The visit will conclude with a cultural programme, including the Nigerian Modernism exhibition at Tate Modern and a reception with members of the Nigerian diaspora, before the presidential party departs the UK.