President Bola Tinubu has been accorded a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle, signalling the start of his state visit to the United Kingdom.
It is the first visit of such to the United Kingdom by a Nigerian leader in 37 years.
Tinubu and Oluremi, his wife, who was with him, were treated to a 42 gun salute by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
Prince William and Princess Catherine had earlier greeted President Tinubu and Oluremi and presented them to King Charles and Queen Camila at Windsor Castle.
There will also be exchanges of gifts and displays of items related to Nigeria that are kept in the Royal Collection, before an opulent state banquet in St George’s Hall.
At the banquet, which will hold in the evening, Charles and Tinubu will both give speeches. The event will be attended by political leaders and celebrities with links to Nigeria.
There will however be no traditional lunch with the king at Windsor as Tinubu, who is a Muslim, is fasting for Ramadan.
Tinubu and his wife, will also lay a wreath of flowers on the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II, in St George’s Chapel.
Furthermore, the Nigerian first family will meet with organisations engaged in interfaith dialogue as the Nigerian leader faces pressure to tackle insecurity in the country which US officials say affects Christians disproportionately.
