Royal Banquet Honors Nigerian President Tinubu Amidst Busy Royal Schedule

King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday evening, welcoming Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu. The event marked the first state visit from a Nigerian leader to the UK in 37 years, and the first time since 1928 the British royal family has hosted a Muslim head of state during Ramadan.

A Historic Visit

President Tinubu’s two-day visit is a significant diplomatic event, building on previous state visits in 1973, 1981, and 1989. Queen Elizabeth II previously hosted Nigerian leaders during those visits. King Charles also met with President Tinubu in September 2024 at Buckingham Palace, and has visited Nigeria on four prior occasions: in 1990, 1999, 2006, and 2018.

Royal Attendance and Notable Absences

The banquet was attended by a number of senior working members of the British royal family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Prince William and Princess Catherine were the first royals to greet the Nigerian President and First Lady upon their arrival at Windsor Castle. However, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was absent from the formal dinner.

Duchess Sophie’s Schedule

The Duchess of Edinburgh’s absence is attributed to a busy schedule. She recently returned from a visit to New York to attend the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women meeting, and prior to that, she and Prince Edward supported British athletes at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy. Their commitments in Cortina resulted in their missing Commonwealth Day services at Westminster Abbey earlier in the week.

A Gala Evening

The banquet in St George’s Hall was decorated with seasonal flowers and foliage from the gardens at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and The Savill Garden. King Charles and Queen Camilla led the procession into the gala dinner, with Queen Camilla wearing the Belgian Sapphire Tiara. The Princess of Wales donned the Lover’s Knot tiara, Princess Anne wore the Meander Tiara, and the Duchess of Gloucester was seen in Queen Mary’s Iveagh Tiara.

Looking Ahead

The Nigerian state visit concluded with Wednesday’s dinner, marking a significant moment in UK-Nigeria relations and a display of royal hospitality.