At Windsor Castle, under the full weight of royal tradition, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu were received by Britain’s King Charles III in a ceremonial welcome that marked the beginning of a historic state visit to the United Kingdom. With a 42-gun salute by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, a carriage procession, and a formal military parade, the moment unfolded with all the grandeur reserved for visiting heads of state, placing Nigeria once again at the centre of a rare and significant diplomatic exchange.
The sequence began on arrival in London. President Tinubu and the First Lady landed at Stansted Airport on Tuesday before proceeding to the Fairmont Hotel, where they were received by a high-ranking Nigerian delegation, including several state governors from Lagos, Katsina, Zamfara, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau, alongside the Minister of Defence. It was a brief but notable pause, grounding the visit within a strong Nigerian presence before the transition into full royal protocol.
From there, the tone shifted quickly and deliberately. Prince William and Princess Catherine arrived at the Fairmont to personally receive the presidential couple, accompanying them on the onward journey to Windsor.
On Datchet Road, the formalities of state began in earnest. President Tinubu and the First Lady were received by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, marking the official commencement of the visit, before proceeding in a carriage procession into Windsor Castle, where the full scale of royal pageantry unfolded.
Upon arrival at the castle, President Tinubu and the First Lady were honoured with a 42-gun salute by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, one of the defining ceremonial moments of the visit. The display, precise and deliberate, reinforced the significance of the occasion and set the tone for the engagements that followed.
Inside Windsor, the structure of royal protocol continued. Senior members of the royal family, including the Queen Consort, were present, while Prince William and Princess Catherine formally presented the Nigerian First Family to King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The moment carried both symbolic and procedural weight, reflecting the layered nature of state engagements at this level.
This visit holds particular historical significance. While President Tinubu has travelled to Britain several times since taking office, this marks his first state visit. More notably, it is the first such visit by a Nigerian leader to the British monarch in 37 years. The last occurred in May 1989, when former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida visited Queen Elizabeth II, placing the current visit within a long but infrequent diplomatic timeline.
King Charles III hosted President Tinubu and the First Lady at Windsor Castle for the duration of the two-day visit, with engagements that balanced cultural exchange and formal diplomacy. Among these was the exchange of gifts, alongside curated displays of Nigerian-related artefacts held within the Royal Collection, offering a visual link between both nations within the historic setting of the castle.
One of the central moments of the visit was the state banquet held in St George’s Hall. Known for its opulence, the hall hosted an evening that brought together political leaders and notable figures with connections to Nigeria. During the banquet, both King Charles III and President Tinubu delivered speeches, reinforcing the diplomatic significance of the occasion.
There were also subtle adjustments to the programme in recognition of personal observance. The traditional lunch with the King did not take place, as President Tinubu, who is Muslim, was observing the Ramadan fast, a detail that was quietly accommodated within the structure of the visit.
Throughout, the visit maintained a careful balance between ceremony and diplomacy, each moment building on the last without excess, allowing the significance of the occasion to speak through its structure..
SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR AT THE STATE BANQUET, WINDSOR CASTLE, MARCH 18, 2026
Your Majesty, King Charles III,
Queen Camilla,
Prince William, the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, and Catherine, the Princess of Wales,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a profound honour to stand before you today, representing the people of Nigeria as we reaffirm the enduring bonds of friendship, history, and shared purpose that have united our two nations for several centuries.
Allow me first to express my sincere appreciation to Your Majesty and to Her Majesty, The Queen for the warmth and generosity extended to me, my wife, Oluremi, and the Nigerian delegation.
As the first Nigerian leader to speak here at Windsor Castle, which has served the British Crown for nearly a millennium, is particularly historic. Windsor has stood as a symbol of continuity, witnessing the steady evolution of institutions that have shaped governance, culture, and public life not only in Britain but far beyond these shores.
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have shared more than just history; our two nations share a vision of progress and resilience. Today, we continue that journey, committed to building a future rooted in partnership, mutual respect, and common values.
Standing here in Windsor Castle, one cannot help but reflect on Britain’s impact on modern democratic governance worldwide.
The Magna Carta of 1215 laid the early foundations for the rule of law and the development of parliamentary democracy, establishing enduring ideals around liberty, accountable government, and civic responsibility.
Great British thinkers and writers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Edmund Burke helped to propagate those democratic ideals. Their influence continues to resonate to this day.
The literary genius of William Shakespeare and other writers such as Charles Dickens, has enriched and shaped the English language, spoken by over 1.5 billion people worldwide.
In Nigeria, elements of these traditions continue to inform the institutional foundations of our own republic. Our courts draw upon legal traditions rooted in English common law. Our parliamentary institutions reflect constitutional practices that evolved here over centuries. Our civil service structures have also drawn upon administrative models developed in Britain and adapted to Nigeria’s own national context.
While institutions matter greatly, our people remain the strongest bridge between our two countries.
The Nigerian community in the United Kingdom has become one of the most dynamic diaspora communities worldwide. Nigerians contribute enormously to the vitality of this nation. Within the National Health Service, Nigerian doctors and nurses play an indispensable role in delivering healthcare. Nigerian-trained doctors are among the largest groups of international medical professionals serving the NHS.
In sport, rugby players such as Maro Itoje, footballers including Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze, and champion boxer Anthony Joshua, illustrate the remarkable human connection that links Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Our partnership is further strengthened through the Commonwealth of Nations, which connects 56 countries under Your Majesty’s leadership.
As one of the largest nations within the Commonwealth, Nigeria looks forward to contributing constructively to the continued growth and vitality of this global community.
Our West African region faces complex terrorism challenges with roots in the Sahel. Nigeria carries an enormous responsibility to help safeguard regional stability. In confronting these threats, partnership with the United Kingdom remains essential and I look forward to my meeting with Prime Minister Kier Starmer tomorrow.
Despite these challenges, Nigeria approaches the future with hope and confidence. We are a nation of diverse and vibrant people, of young people dreaming big, of entrepreneurs with a global outlook, and of a hopeful people determined to realise their full potential.
Your Majesty, I am confident that the friendship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom will continue to grow.
Finally, Your Majesty, I wish to express Nigeria’s deep gratitude to this great nation for the refuge and support it extended during the dark years of military dictatorship. Like many Nigerians involved in the pro-democracy struggle, I found safety here, and I recall that my residence was placed under Metropolitan Police surveillance for protection following threats from agents of the junta. That solidarity remains etched in our collective memory, and it is deeply humbling for me to stand before Your Majesty today as the President of a democratic Nigeria.
On behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, I thank Your Majesty, Her Majesty The Queen, Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, other members of the Royal Family, and the people of the United Kingdom for their longstanding friendship.
In the spirit of friendship and our shared destiny, I invite you all to raise a glass with me:
To the special bond between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, and to the bright future that we shall build together.
God bless His Majesty The King. God bless Nigeria. God bless the United Kingdom. Thank you very much.
Full text of King Charles III Speech:
“Your Excellency, Mr President, and Distinguished First Lady,
“Ekabo. Se Daaa Daa Ni. (Greetings! I hope you are well.)
“My wife and I are delighted to welcome you to Windsor Castle here on this occasion. We are most grateful to you for travelling during this holy month which, I acknowledge, is no small sacrifice, and so it is my particular pleasure to wish you, Mr President, peace, blessings, and an abundance of joy.
“Ramadan Mubarak!
“During my most recent visit to Nigeria in 2018, when I was fortunate enough to be able to spend some time with your highly respected traditional leaders, the Sultan of Sokoto, the Ooni of Ife, Onitsha, Warri, and The Emir of Kano, it was self-evident that while the warmth of the Nigerian welcome remains constant, the country itself is transforming at a remarkable pace. Nigeria hasn’t merely changed. It has arrived. Yours is now a nation of over two hundred and thirty million people, half of whom are under eighteen, with the energy, ingenuity, ambition and resolve to address the great challenges of our age.
“We in the United Kingdom are blessed that so many people of Nigerian heritage, having chosen Britain as their home, are now at the heart of British life through excelling at the highest levels of business, technology, academia, law, science, sport, literature and the arts, and public service.
“I have met so many of these quiet heroes in our schools, businesses, National Health Service and universities, including countless young people who have flourished through the work of my King’s Trust over the last fifty years. Only last week, I was delighted to host a rather lively group of them for a ‘Jollof and Tea’ Party, at St. James’s Palace. I was firmly assured that the Jollof was only the best: Nigerian, of course… or perhaps Ghanaian or Senegalese. Diplomatically I cannot remember!
“But who could have imagined that, when I first visited Nigeria thirty-six years ago today, so many of those I might have met would have gone on to have such an impact in the United Kingdom. From Afrobeats filling our concert halls and Nollywood captivating our screens, to stars competing in our Premier League and adjudicating our highest courts, so much of Britain’s culture is, in truth, profoundly enriched by Nigeria. Whether they are Nigerians who have chosen Britain as their adopted place to invest, trade or study, or Britons who cherish their personal connection to Nigeria, they all represent a living bridge of over half a million people who connect our nations, Mr President, and help make our cultures richer, our shared security stronger and our economies more prosperous.
“We are proud that so many great examples of this living bridge join us this evening.
“As the connections between our nations deepen every day, so too do the economic ties. Your visit has provided the opportunity to celebrate the fact that Nigeria is investing in Britain’s future as much as Britain is investing in Nigeria’s – leading Nigerian banks have chosen the City of London as a global base, examples of the best Nigerian companies have listed on London’s Stock Exchange, and U.K. Export Finance is supporting investment in Nigeria’s ports. In education, British schools and universities are opening their doors in Nigeria, and British and Nigerian technology companies are forming ever closer partnerships. I was pleased to see that visitors from Nigeria spent £178 million in Britain in 2024, and 251,000 people from Britain travelled to Nigeria and spent just as much, in return. In January of this year, Nigeria became the United Kingdom’s biggest export market in Africa and whilst I hear that in Nigeria the phrase ‘Made in U.K.’ has always symbolised the highest quality, it evidently now has a distinctively Nigerian flavour…
The friendship between our two countries, Mr President, is a partnership of equals that has brought us both enormous benefits. It has been described to me as a deeply spiritual connection – beyond churches and mosques – a deep bond through which we have strengthened our shared security, ensured our economies are more prosperous, and empowered each other to believe in a more hopeful future.
The many dynamic connections between our two nations have deep roots and yet I do not pretend that those roots are without a shadow. There are chapters in our shared history that I know have left some painful marks. I do not seek to offer words that dissolve the past, for no words can. But I do believe, as I know you believe, Mr President, 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 hope and growth for all, and worthy of those who bore the pains of the past.
“This afternoon, in another part of the Castle, Mr President, you and I witnessed one such example of how we are learning from one another when we met leaders of the British Christian and Muslim communities. The gathering was a deeply meaningful symbol of what Nigeria has long shown: that people of different faiths can, do, and must live alongside one another, in peace, in harmony and in shared purpose. It was also a timely reminder of the importance of standing with you – and in us strengthening your Quick Reaction Forces, or in providing food, nutrition and protection services in Northern Nigeria – when challenges disturb the age-old balance between these communities.
“Your nation, Mr President, is an economic powerhouse, a cultural force and an influential diplomatic voice from a continent that is playing an increasingly important role in the world. In a vastly interconnected global environment, one that is changing at unimaginable speed, that leadership brings responsibility – and opportunity. I heed the Yoruba wisdom – and forgive me if I say it in English… that “rain does not fall on one roof alone”. As you observed so astutely before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in 2024, “if we didn’t have this global alliance… of fifty-six member states, 2.7 billion people and a combined G.D.P. forecast soon to surpass twenty trillion U.S. dollars… there would be a need to create one”. I believe firmly that, when rain clouds gather, we can tighten the grip of friendship between us and, in so doing, reinforce the central role of the Commonwealth in our shared future.
“As the world changes, these are lessons we must heed now more than ever. As the Hausa saying goes, “when the music changes, so does the dance”. We can learn from Nigeria, and the best of the U.K. and Nigeria’s partnership, and harness the advantage that comes from our common languages, our similar legal systems, and the web of cultural ties and spiritual connections that provide such deep trust between us, and look to the future and learn new dance steps, together.
“Mr President, you have spoken, in particular, of the importance of expanding intra- Commonwealth trade by creating shared standards, regulatory and digital alignment, and removing barriers that deter investment – as the U.K. and Nigeria’s Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership is just such an example – so that our economies can grow, in harmony with Nature, and create the millions of jobs our citizens need. So as we look towards C.H.O.G.M. this year, I hope far from being past its time – we can demonstrate that the Commonwealth’s time has come, as you so rightly said. In achieving that, my wife and I will gain strength from seeing Nigeria take her rightful place at the heart of the Commonwealth and to standing alongside you as a friend, who believes the future is best when built together. As the Igbo say, “Knowledge is never complete two heads are better than one”.
“So as I close, Mr President, in anticipation of Eid El-Fitr in Nigeria and across the world, I can only wish you and the millions of Muslims in our countries, Eid Mubarak.
“And, in doing so, let me propose a toast,
“To the President and people of Nigeria –
“Naija No Dey Carry Last!” (Nigerians Never Come Last)”
