November 23, 2022
2 mins read

King Charles welcomes Ramaphosa for first state visit

Ramaphosa is scheduled to visit Westminster Abbey to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and see the memorial stone for former South African President Nelson Mandela…reports Asian Lite News

King Charles has hosted his first state visit since becoming British monarch, welcoming South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to Buckingham Palace.

Charles, 74, rolled out the traditional pomp and ceremony on Tuesday for the first time as head of state, as Britain seeks to bolster its relations with its biggest trading partner in Africa.

Ramaphosa and his wife were officially greeted by Charles’s eldest son and heir Prince William and his wife Kate at a central London hotel to mark the start of his two-day trip, the first state visit to the UK by a world leader since that of former United States President Donald Trump and his wife Melania in 2019.

Gun salutes and a ceremonial welcome from the king and his wife Camilla, the queen consort, followed before a grand carriage procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where a banquet will be held later in the president’s honour.

Ramaphosa is scheduled to visit Westminster Abbey to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and see the memorial stone for former South African President Nelson Mandela.

He will also address lawmakers in Parliament and meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Britain hopes the visit, which had been planned before the death of Queen Elizabeth in September, will strengthen trade and investment ties between the two nations, and show the importance of links with the Commonwealth of Nations, the international organisation that Charles now heads.

“This is a reinforcement of the strong bilateral relationship that we have with South Africa, a real opportunity to build on that close working relationship and discuss some of the issues that affect us all,” British Foreign Minister James Cleverly told Reuters news agency.

The last state visit to Britain by a South African leader was that of President Jacob Zuma in 2010, when he was met by Charles and Camilla at the start of the trip.

ALSO READ-UAE seeking to enable SMEs enter global markets: Al Marri

Previous Story

More rail strikes to disrupt travel in Dec and Jan

Next Story

Fauci laments impact of political divisiveness on Covid response

Latest from -Top News

Jaishankar to Represent PM Modi at East Asia Summit

The East Asia Summit will provide an opportunity to deliberate on the challenges to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region…reports Asian Lite News External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend

India drives education forward in Nepal

India donates 81 school buses to Nepal, bolsters education, disaster preparedness, and regional ties; parliamentary delegations engage on diplomacy, climate, AI, and humanitarian cooperation at IPU Assembly….reports Asian Lite News In a

Afghanistan clarifies ceasefire deal with Pakistan

Afghanistan and Pakistan formalise ceasefire prioritising dialogue, civilian protection, and regional stability; India upgrades Kabul mission and the Islamic Emirate seeks constructive engagement with global partners….reports Asian Lite News Afghanistan has formally

China’s economic slide shadows Xi’s plenum

As Xi Jinping’s Fourth Plenum convenes in Beijing, China faces deepening economic troubles, deflation, and internal rifts within the Communist Party, despite official claims of progress and stability….reports Asian Lite News The

Nag Mark-2 locks on!

India’s defence modernisation drive gains momentum with upcoming clearance for Nag Mark-2 missiles and a ₹10,000 crore S-400 missile deal with Russia, boosting both self-reliance and deterrence….reports Asian Lite News In a
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Ramaphosa wins bid to interdict prosecution against him by Zuma

The court declared that the “Nolle Prosequi Certificates” issued by

Ukraine war has to have an end, Ramaphosa tells Putin

Putin said the food crisis had been caused by the