British royals welcome Nigerian Presidential Couple to Windsor

The British royal family welcomed the President and First Lady of Nigeria to Windsor.

King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed the President and First Lady of Nigeria, Mr and Mrs Tinubu, to Windsor on Wednesday. The glorious weather added to the atmosphere of joy as Their Majesties arrived on the Royal Dias. The Prince and Princess of Wales were already dispatched to retrieve the state guests and were en route to Windsor’s Datchet Road.

Upon arrival, the President exited the State Bentley with the Prince of Wales, while the First Lady and Princess of Wales were shortly behind. The Presidential Couple warmly greeted the King and Queen—President Tinubu even giving the Queen a hand kiss. As greetings took place, the Princess of Wales offered customary curtsies to King Charles and Queen Camilla. Following the playing of the respective national anthems and a royal salute, the royal party set off in carriage processions to the Castle, with crowds lining the route and waving British and Nigerian flags.

While the official welcoming ceremony takes place, another royal salute was fired in Home Park, Windsor & at the Tower of London.

In the Castle’s Quadrangle, a Guard of Honour formed of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards was in place. The King and the President jointly inspected the assembled troops and rejoined the platform. The party then entered Windsor via the Sovereign’s entrance.

A viewing of the Royal Collection—one of the world’s largest and most important art collections, which is the last of its kind in Europe—was held. One of the items on display was a Yoruba Throne and foot cushion. The intricately crafted gift was presented to the late Queen Elizabeth II during her 1956 visit. Beadwork and royalty are closely associated among the Yoruba communities, who work with vast quantities of small, brightly coloured beads that denote wealth and status.

Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

Another notable item on display was the manuscript of poems by Nigerian-born British poet Sir Ben Okri (b. 1959). The novelist and playwright—who was the first Black writer to win the Booker Prize in 1991—previously penned a new miniature poem book. The mini book of poems is part of the Miniature Library at Windsor Castle, a 2024 initiative to mark the centenary of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, curated by Queen Camilla.

The gold miniature was hand-bound by Rachel Ward-Sale, who is a Fellow of Designer Bookbinders. Amongst the ten poems Sir Ben chose to include is ‘An African Elegy’ from his first, eponymous poetry collection. The poem serves as a poignant reflection on the wounds of the past, and the environmental and geopolitical crises of our times:

The ocean is full of songs.
The sky is not an enemy.
Destiny is our friend.