The Royal Family has put on a dazzling display at a magnificent state banquet in honour of the President of Nigeria – for the first time in almost 40 years.
The Princess of Wales looked impossibly regal in a flowing green evening gown by Andrew Gn with her favourite Lover’s Knot Tiara and earrings that belonged to Queen Elizabeth II.
She also sported her King Charles III Royal Family Order with the GCVO Sash and Star.
The Prince of Wales wore white tie with the Windsor tail coat and his Most Noble Order of the Garter Sash with the ‘Lesser George’.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla sported a cream embroidered gown by Fiona Clare with a sapphire and diamond tiara with matching earrings, both belonging to Queen Elizabeth II and given to her by her late father, George VI, as a wedding gift.
The King also wore a blinding array of diamond-studded orders as he led the procession into the banquet hall and stood to give a speech.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, took their seats among the British royals for the crescendo of their two-day visit.
Running the length of St George’s Hall, a 155-foot dining table had been laden with sweet-smelling spring flowers gathered locally, bathed with the light of 143 candles.
Staff began laying the table out on Monday morning, and the finishing touches were made only a few hours before guests were due to sit down – little wonder with 960 knives and forks and 62 pepper pots for the 160 invited.
As well as the King, Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, other royals attending included the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Notable Nigerians include author Sir Ben Okri, artist Yinka Shonibare, footballer Eniloa Aluko, singer Tiwa Savage, presenter Ade Adepitan, athlete Christine Ohuruogu and Diana Awards chief Tessie Ojo.
In a speech, the King began by wishing his guests ‘peace, blessings and an abundance of joy’ during such a holy month.
He highlighted the fact that, in January, Nigeria became the UK’s biggest export market in Africa.
He also praised the UK’s large Nigerian diaspora, which he described as a ‘living bridge of over half a million people who connect our nations… and help make our cultures richer, our shared security stronger and our economies more prosperous’.
The King acknowledged that there are ‘chapters in our shared history that I know have left some painful marks’ but said that ‘history is not merely a record of what was done to us – it is a lesson in how we go forward together to continue building a future rooted in growth and hope for all, and worthy of of those who borne the pains of the past’.
He concluded to cheers: ‘Naija No Dey Carry Last’ – Nigerians Never Come Last.
Adjustments had been made for those guests who are Muslim and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, including setting aside an area for prayer and Iftar.
Indeed, for the first time in living memory, the royal household was serving canapés at the pre-banquet reception for guests to break their fast, mindful of the fact that, after the speeches, people would not be eating until 9pm.
While the President – the first Nigerian leader to be honoured with a state visit in 37 years – had been given orange juice for his toast, a special non-alcoholic cocktail was also made in honour of the occasion.
Based on a traditional African cocktail known as The Chapman, the royal Crimson Bloom contained Zobu (a traditional west African soft drink), English rose soda and homemade hibiscus and ginger syrup, with lemon and a hint of spice.
English sparkling wine was used for the toasts for those who were drinking alcohol, and the menu did not include meat.
To start, guests were to be served a soft-boiled egg tartlet with watercress and kale and a basil sabayon to start.
For the main, there was fillet of turbot, lobster mousse wrapped in spinach, beurre blanc sauce with sprouting broccoli and hollandaise sauce, fricasse of peas and broad beans and Jersey Royal potatoes.
Desert was an iced black currant soufflé with red fruit coulis.
The wine list included: Sugrue South Downs, Cuvée Boz, Blanc de Blanc, 2020; Domaine Vincent & François Jouard, Bâtard-Montrachet, Grand Cru, Vieilles Vignes, 2022; Château Pichon Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande, Grand Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2000; and Louis Roederer, Brut Vintage, 2000.
After dinner, guests will be served Dow’s 1983 Vintage Port and Bowmore Queen’s Cask 1980, Islay.
At the conclusion of the Banquet, the flowers that cannot be reused are donated to Floral Angels, a charity based at the New Covent Garden Flower Market in London whose patron is Her Majesty The Queen.
These flowers are then delivered to hospices, elderly care homes, shelters, and many other deserving beneficiaries within the local community.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, were welcomed to the castle by Charles and Camilla earlier today.
Green and white Nigerian flags lined the streets, alongside Union flags, and an oversized Royal Standard flew from the top of the Round Tower.
The Prince and Princess of Wales first met the couple at luxury spa hotel Fairmont Windsor Park, before escorting them by car to Windsor town centre to formally meet the King and Queen.
The King and Queen then arrived at the Royal Dais in central Windsor, near the castle. Charles and Camilla were met with the national anthem, played by a military band.
The King, Camilla, William, Kate and Mr and Mrs Tinubu then travelled in a carriage procession in a show of traditional pomp and pageantry through Windsor to the castle’s quadrangle to see the Guard of Honour for the ceremonial welcome.
The princess opted for diplomatic royal dressing by wearing a coat dress by young British-Nigerian fashion designer Tolu Coker – after Charles made a surprise appearance in the front row of the artist’s London Fashion Week show last month.
The King welcomed the Nigerian president with a broad smile and a handshake.
Both the Prince and Princess of Wales greeted Camilla with a kiss on both cheeks, with Kate curtsying to Camilla and later the King.
Charles chatted to the president as they stood side by side on the dais, and pointed out the Sovereign’s Escort from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in their resplendent uniforms.
Ceremonial service personnel lined the procession route as the King and the president then travelled in the Australian State Coach through the streets of the Berkshire town to the castle’s quadrangle, led by a Sovereign’s Escort from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
Supporters of the president gathered along the route cheered as he passed.
The King and his guest were followed by the Queen and Mrs Tinubu in the Scottish State Coach, and then William and Kate with Nigeria’s attorney general Lateef Fagbemi and minister of state for foreign affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in the Irish State Coach.
The carriage procession carrying the King and Nigeria’s president travelled through the George IV gate and swept into Windsor Castle’s quadrangle.
Waiting in the centre of the grass-covered square was a Guard of Honour drawn from the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards with the Band of the Grenadier Guards, and an ensign carrying the Grenadier Guards State Colour, or ceremonial flag.
As the Australian State Coach carrying the King and Mr Tinubu travelled around the square, the Nigerian and British national anthems were played, finishing as the wheels stopped beside the royal dais.
