The Princess of Wales shone in a dazzling tiara while impressing their Nigerian guests alongside the King at a state banquet this evening.
Adorned in the Lover’s Knot Tiara and a striking emerald gown designed by Andrew Gn, the Princess arrived at St George’s Hall in the company of Prince William and Prince Edward.
This marks President Tinubu’s historic visit to the UK during the holy month of Ramadan, a rare occurrence as Muslim leaders typically refrain from official visits during this period of fasting from dawn to sunset.
Due to Ramadan observances, there was no customary lunch with the King for the president during the day. Instead, it is reported that President Tinubu privately broke his fast before joining the Royal Family at St George’s Hall for the banquet.
The first lady, known as Remi, is a Christian and a Pentecostal pastor. The couple is expected to depart the UK tomorrow evening as Eid-al-Fitr, the celebration marking the end of Ramadan, commences.
A notable gathering of nine members of the royal family graced the event, including the King, Queen, Prince William, and Kate, as well as other esteemed guests like the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
The banquet was attended by various prominent Nigerian and British-Nigerian personalities, such as Olympic gold medalist Christine Ohuruogu, England rugby captain Maro Itoje, singer Tiwa Savage, and others including space scientist Dame Maggie Aderin and Michelin-starred chef Adejoke Bakare.
A total of 160 guests were invited to the luxurious banquet, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer seated next to rugby star Itoje.
Earlier, Kate exuded diplomatic grace as she and William welcomed their guests at their Windsor hotel, dressed in a grey coat dress by British-Nigerian designer Tolu Coker. Kate accessorized with a grey Jane Taylor hat featuring a white bow and earrings once worn by the late Princess Diana.
The Nigerian leader and his wife were warmly greeted by Charles and Camilla in the sunny spring weather after being escorted by William and Kate to a red-carpeted dais outside Windsor and Eton Riverside train station.
The royal procession through Windsor showcased a display of Nigerian and Union flags, with a grand Royal Standard flying from Windsor Castle’s Round Tower in celebration.
The visit by the Nigerian leader aims to bolster the UK’s position as a hub for African business, coinciding with the announcement of new job opportunities as Nigerian companies expand their operations in the UK.
This grand royal event follows closely after the arrest of the King’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on suspicion of sharing confidential reports with Jeffrey Epstein, amidst the monarchy’s ongoing scandal.
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