King Charles III is hosting the first Nigerian state visit to the United Kingdom in 37 years, with Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, receiving a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle.
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At the start of the two-day visit, the leaders of Africa’s most populous nation—whose population is roughly triple that of the UK—were greeted by senior royals, including Queen Camilla and Prince William alongside Catherine, Princess of Wales.
The King and President Tinubu are expected to deliver speeches on Wednesday evening at the state banquet, which will be attended by political leaders and celebrities with ties to Nigeria.
However, there will be no traditional luncheon with the King at Windsor Castle, as President Tinubu, a Muslim, is observing the fast during Ramadan.
In warm spring sunshine, the President and First Lady—dressed in traditional attire—were accorded the full ceremonial grandeur of a royal استقبال. A carriage procession brought the Nigerian delegation into the quadrangle of Windsor Castle, where a military band performed in precise formation on the checkerboard lawn.
A gun salute was fired, national anthems were played, guards were inspected, and the Household Cavalry paraded before a viewing stand occupied by the King, Queen, and their guests.
Earlier, President Tinubu and his wife were received by Prince William and Catherine before being formally introduced to the King and Queen.
Inside the castle, the royal hosts and their guests viewed Nigerian artefacts from the Royal Collection, including a Yoruba throne, sculptures, paintings, and a manuscript of a poem by Ben Okri.
Official gifts were also exchanged. The President and First Lady received hand-crafted pottery, a silver photo frame bearing a portrait of the King and Queen, and a silver and enamel bowl. In return, the royal couple were presented with a traditional Yoruba statuette and a jewellery box featuring the faces of prominent Nigerian women.
State visits serve to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties. This visit is expected to deepen business relations, particularly in financial services. The UK’s Department for Business and Trade highlighted that Zenith Bank recently opened a branch in Manchester, creating new jobs.
There are also strong people-to-people connections, with more than 270,000 Nigerian-born residents living in the UK.
“This state visit is about turning a historic relationship into a modern economic partnership—transforming trust into opportunity,” said Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris.
Later in the visit, President Tinubu and his wife will lay a wreath at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II at St George’s Chapel, and attend an interfaith event aimed at fostering religious harmony.
The state banquet will take place at St George’s Hall, featuring a menu that traditionally reflects both British and Nigerian cuisines.
On Thursday, Mrs Tinubu, an ordained pastor, is scheduled to preach at Lambeth Palace and meet representatives of the Church of England.
Nigeria, with a population of about 220 million people, is almost evenly divided between Muslims and Christians, with Muslims predominantly in the north and Christians in the south.
The visit comes amid growing international concern over insecurity in Nigeria, including insurgency, kidnappings, and communal clashes. In Borno State, at least 23 people were killed and over 100 injured in recent attacks attributed to Boko Haram.
President Tinubu condemned the attacks, describing the perpetrators as “evil-minded” terrorists, while UK lawmakers have called for stronger protection of religious freedom in Nigeria.
The visit also takes place against the backdrop of global tensions, including conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, where Volodymyr Zelensky recently met with King Charles.
The state banquet will additionally mark the King’s first major public address following the recent controversy involving his brother, Prince Andrew.
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