King Charles III will receive the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his wife at Buckingham Palace for his first state visit as a monarch.
In June 2019, US president Donald Trump and his wife Melania were hosted by queen Elizabeth II in the UK.
This was the first invitation Charles has extended since taking the throne in September, when his mother passed away. He has yet to reveal where he will travel on his first official tour abroad.
Events in South Africa, where Ramaphosa faces possible impeachment for allegedly concealing up a crime, will overshadow the pomp of the important international gathering.
Setting the proper tone will be important, according to Christopher Vandome, a senior research fellow at the London-based Chatham House Institute for International Affairs.
He claimed that since South Africans are still bitter about the West’s lack of support during the Covid crisis, London, a former colonial power in that country, should refrain from lecturing Pretoria about her UN voting record on Ukraine.
Vandome predicted that topics like trade, climate change, and Charles’s plan for the Commonwealth would be at the top of the list.
Ramaphosa last visited London in September for the official funeral of the monarch at Westminster Abbey.
His state visit follows the last one by a South African leader, Jacob Zuma, who visited the UK in 2010. Prior to the official program beginning on Tuesday, which includes a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, Ramaphosa arrives on Monday.
Ramaphosa and First Lady Tshepo Motsepe will be greeted by Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, who will also arrange for the visiting couple to meet other senior royals.
Prince William, the heir to the throne, will accompany Charles and Camilla for a formal military welcome along with his wife Kate, Princess of Wales.
Ramaphosa will travel with Prince Edward, the youngest brother of Charles, to a biomedical research facility and the Kew Gardens in London.
A speech to members of both chambers of parliament and a meeting with the prime minister in Downing Street are also on the schedule.
