The Prince and Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton and Prince William, recently played a pivotal role in welcoming the president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his wife, first lady Oluremi Tinubu, during their historic state visit to the United Kingdom. This marked the first such visit by a Nigerian leader in 37 years, highlighting the significance of this occasion.
The royal couple met the Tinubus at their hotel in Windsor Great Park before proceeding to Windsor for a ceremonial reception hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Observing royal etiquette, Princess Kate greeted Queen Camilla with a warm kiss on each cheek and a respectful curtsy, while Prince William opted for a more casual greeting, offering a pair of cheek kisses instead.
For the occasion, Princess Kate donned a stylish grey ensemble crafted by British-Nigerian designer Tolu Coker, accentuated with a coordinating hat. Her dress sense reflects the merging of tradition and contemporary fashion, a hallmark of her public appearances. Following her customary curtsy, she exchanged pleasantries with King Charles, reportedly telling him, “Good morning!” with a radiant smile.
While there is no strict protocol mandating when and how to bow or curtsy, members of the royal family traditionally perform these gestures when addressing the monarch. Kate, known for her adherence to royal customs, has been seen extending similar courtesies during past state visits, such as the one with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in December 2025, where she also performed a double curtsy.
President Tinubu’s visit comes at a crucial time for diplomatic relations, reflecting both Nigeria’s prominence in global affairs and its historical ties with the U.K. On the agenda for the first day of the visit was a private trip to St. George’s Chapel, where the couple paid their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II by laying a wreath at her tomb.
In keeping with tradition, the first day concluded with a lavish state banquet in honour of the Nigerian leaders, featuring speeches from both King Charles and President Tinubu. This banquet serves not only as a ceremonial gesture but also to foster stronger ties between the two nations.
As part of their diplomatic exchange, a traditional gifting ceremony took place. King Charles and Queen Camilla presented the Tinubus with an intricately designed silver photograph frame, engraved with their joint cypher and containing a signed portrait of the royal couple. In return, the president received a hand-crafted pottery plate from The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts in Cairo, while the first lady was gifted a delicate silver and enamel bowl from renowned Northern Irish silversmith Cara Murphy.
The second day of the Tinubus’ visit is set to include a wreath-laying ceremony at Westminster Abbey at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, a poignant tribute to the sacrifices made in conflict. They will also explore the contemporary art scene at the Tate Modern, where they are expected to view an exhibition on Nigerian Modernism.
Additionally, President Tinubu is slated to meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street as part of his itinerary. Meanwhile, Oluremi Tinubu has been invited to lead a prayer service at Lambeth Palace, further emphasising the cultural and communal aspects of their visit.
As the visit unfolds, it signals a renewed commitment to strengthening the partnership between Nigeria and the UK, promising mutual benefits in various sectors, including trade, culture, and education. As representatives of their respective nations, both the Tinubus and the British royals demonstrated the importance of diplomacy and tradition, laying the groundwork for future collaboration.