King welcomes Volodymyr Zelensky for audience at Windsor Castle ,
The King has offered another public show of support for Ukraine by welcoming president Volodymyr Zelensky to Windsor Castle .
His Majesty staged a ceremonial welcome for the Ukrainian leader for the first time ahead of a political summit later today.
Charles then invited the president for a private audience at the castle, before Mr Zelensky joins a meeting of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer .
The president was met in the Quadrangle by a Guard of Honour formed of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
He received a Royal Salute, and the band played the Ukrainian national anthem in his honour before Ukrainian leader inspected the guards, accompanied by the King.
It is the first time Mr Zelensky has had a ceremonial welcome in Britain – and steps up the monarchy’s support for his cause.
The King and Mr Zelensky have now met five times: three previous audiences at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Sandringham, and one other reception at the European Leaders summit at Blenheim Palace.
The King arrived in the castle quadrangle at 10.15am, standing to listen to the national anthem.
At 10.20am, President Zelensky’s car, followed by one other containing a small Ukrainian delegation drove around the gravel path to stop in front of the King.
As Mr Zelensky stepped out, the King threw up his arms in welcome and stepped forward to shake his hand.
The two men stood together to hear the Ukrainian national anthem, Mr Zelensky putting his hand on his heart.
Major Ben Tracey, captain of the Guard of Honour, stepped forward – sword aloft – to invite the President to the inspection.
The King appeared to explain where they would be walking, crossing the path with his fellow Head of State onto the grass where the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards stood.
Mr Zelensky led the way in the inspection, as per protocol, with the King following behind.
If it seemed odd for a war ime president to take part in such ceremonials, he did not show it.
Mr Zelensky walked slowly with his eyes on the guards, then straight ahead, and did not stop to make small talk.
He was seen to thank the King and Major Tracey for the welcome.
The King engaged him in warm-looking conversation, at one point putting his arm fully around the President and patting him as he ushered him inside the castle for a private audience.
He introduced Zelensky to Major General James Bowder, who commands the Household Cavalry, and equerry Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson.
Mr Zelensky wore his usual black jacket and trousers for the occasion, while the King wore a grey suit with maroon tie.
The two men entered Windsor Castle through the Sovereign’s entrance, while palace staff took three members of the Ukrainian delegation through a second door to wait in the warm as the private audience got underway.
Mr Zelensky is currently visiting European nations to push political leaders for extra finance and weapons for his efforts to defend his country against Russia.
Today’s ‘Coalition of the Willing’ summit will include Nato secretary general Mark Rutte and Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen, while French president Emmanuel Macron will join virtually.
The King has been outspoken in his support of Ukraine and Mr Zelensky since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Within a week, the King had attended an engagement at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London to meet the ambassador as well as mothers and children in the community, to show his support.
He went on to undertake numerous engagements, including overseas, with Ukrainian refugees and has issued a written message of support on the anniversary of the start of the war each year since.
The men, women and children of Ukraine, he has said, have ‘suffered unimaginably from an unprovoked full-scale attack on their nation’, describing the attack on their lands and homes as ‘brutal aggression’.
The King has spoken in the French, German and Italian parliaments in support of Ukraine.
In September, in a state banquet speech at the US state dinner, he told President Donald Trump: ‘Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace.’
In March, the King hosted Mr Zelensky for tea at Sandringham, shortly after his bruising encounter at the White House.
It was interpreted as a defining show of personal support for the president at arguably the lowest moment of his negotiations with the West.
After the American state visit, President Trump appeared to deliver a U-turn to publicly say that he believed Ukraine could win the war.
Andriy Yermak, Mr Zelensky’s chief of staff, credited the King with persuading him.
Mr Trump has recently applied sanctions to Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil in an effort to push Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table to end the war.
Later today, Sir Keir is expected to press leaders to provide more long-range weapons for further strikes inside Russia, as well as to announce the accelerated provision of 100 additional air defence missiles to Kyiv after a deal finalised in March.
Mr Zelensky has this week also met with Ulf Kristersson, the Swedish prime minister, and travelled to Brussels to meet EU leaders in search of financial support.
