Buckingham Palace has announced plans for a historic diplomatic engagement as Nigeria’s president prepares for an official state visit to the United Kingdom in March, marking the first trip of its kind by a Nigerian head of state in nearly forty years.
According to palace officials, President Bola Tinubu will travel alongside first lady Oluremi Tinubu for the two-day visit scheduled for March 18 and 19. The royal family is expected to host the Nigerian delegation at Windsor Castle, although additional program details are yet to be released.
The upcoming visit continues a longstanding connection between the British monarchy and Nigeria, a member of the Commonwealth. Before ascending to the throne, King Charles III made four separate visits to Nigeria between 1990 and 2018. He also met President Tinubu at Buckingham Palace in September 2024.
Historical records reported by the AP show that Nigerian leaders last undertook state visits to the United Kingdom in 1973, 1981 and 1989, highlighting the significance of the planned engagement.
State visits to Britain typically open with a ceremonial welcome led by the monarch. The program generally features a formal carriage procession and culminates in a state banquet attended by senior dignitaries.
King Charles has maintained an active diplomatic calendar, hosting several prominent leaders in recent times, including U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during state visits last year.
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