King Charles hosted Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for the first Nigerian state visit to the UK in 37 years.
The ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle included a carriage procession, military band, gun salute, national anthems, and Household Cavalry parade - all under spring sunshine. Senior royals attended, including Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Inside Windsor Castle, the delegation viewed Nigerian artifacts from the Royal Collection, including a Yoruba throne and Sir Ben Okri’s poem manuscript. Official gifts were exchanged: British pottery and silverware for Nigerian Yoruba statuettes and a women’s portrait jewelry box.
No traditional lunch occurred due to President Tinubu fasting for Ramadan. Instead, the visit emphasized economic diplomacy: Zenith Bank opened its Manchester branch this week, signaling deepening UK-Nigeria financial ties.
The itinerary included a wreath-laying at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb, an interfaith event, and a state banquet in St George’s Hall - the King’s first major public speech since Prince Andrew’s arrest. Later, First Lady Tinubu will preach at Lambeth Palace.
Nigeria’s government described the visit as transforming historic trust into modern economic opportunity. Security challenges - including Islamist insurgency and intercommunal violence - remain under international scrutiny, notably from the Trump administration.