A Royal Showcase: Key Moments from the Nigerian State Visit

A royal showcase, King Charles and Quenn Camilla are set to host President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, at Windsor Castle for the Nigerian state visit

With a dazzling state banquet held several activities which is very close to King’s heart. The two-days event celebration’s key role played by Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales

The plan is filled, with only a limited time for the Nigerian First couple to spend time with the royals.

Below the key highlights you need to about the first state visit of the year event:

On 17 March 2026, Tuesday, afternoon, the president and first lady will arrive at London Stansted airport. On behalf of King, Mark Bevan, Deputy Lieutenant of Essex welcome the couple as well as Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu, the Acting High Commissioner of the Nigerian High Commission.

Visit Carry on Wednesday 18 March, the following morning, the Nigerian state visit kicks off in earnest step out as Prince and Princess of Wales will officially welcome the President and First Lady at the Fairmont Hotel Windsor. Their Royal Highnesses will accompany the couple to Datchet Road in Windsor, where they will receive a Ceremonial Welcome before a formal welcome from the King and Queen at the Royal Dias. A Royal Salute will be fired at Windsor Home Park and the Tower of London, ahead of a Salute from The Sovereign’s Escort and the playing of the Nigerian national anthem.

The Guard of Honour will give a Royal Salute, and the Band will play the national anthems of Nigeria and Britain. After the President and the King inspect the Guard of Honour, they will join the Queen and the First Lady to watch The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery March Past, the Sovereign’s Escort Rank Past, and the Guard of Honour March Past with the Prince and Princess of Wales.

That afternoon, the King and Queen will invite the President and the First Lady to the Green Drawing Room, where they will view a special exhibition of items relating to Nigeria from the Royal Collection.

King Charles and President Tinubu will meet for an audience before visiting Vicars’ Hall, where they will join the First Lady to meet with British and international interfaith organisations. Then, there will be an opportunity for the President and the First Lady to pay their respects at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II in St George’s Chapel.

In the evening, the royal family will gather to host a state banquet at Windsor Castle, with Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, and the Princess of Wales all likely to don a tiara for the occasion. In the honour of German President, King Charles was joined Queen Camilla, and other royal members, King and President both are expected to deliver speeches at the beginning of dinner

Guests are dining on a menu of:

Soft-boiled quail egg tartlet with watercress and kale and a basil sabayon

Filet of turbot, lobster mousse wrapped in spinach, beurre blanc sauce, sprouting broccoli with hollandaise sauce, fricasse of peas and broad beans, Jersey Royal potatoes

Iced blackcurrant souffle with red fruit coulis

The 47-metre table has been adorned with seasonal flowers and foliage from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and The Savill Gardens in Windsor Great Park.

On Thursday, 19 March, the Nigerian couple will end their visit. The President will lay a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey and then meet the UK Prime Minister at Downing Street. The First Lady will visit Lambeth Palace and take part in a religious and charity-focused event.

Before leaving London, both will visit the Tate Modern to see an exhibition of Nigerian modern art and attend a reception with members of the Nigerian community in the UK.

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