The King welcomed the president of South Africa at the beginning of his first state visit as monarch.
As the two-day journey began, King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, met Cyril Ramaphosa formally at Horse Guards Parade in London.
The president will visit Westminster Abbey before attending a meal at Buckingham Palace hosted by the King.
Mr. Ramaphosa’s visit occurs at a time when South Africa is battling ongoing power outages and rising unemployment.
It is the first state visit to the United Kingdom in more than three years since such visits were suspended during the Covid epidemic.
Tuesday morning, the Prince and Princess of Wales met with the South African president at his London hotel before accompanying him to Horse Guards Parade for a formal greeting with the King.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, and Home Secretary Suella Braverman were also present at Horse Guards for the inspection of Coldstream Guards soldiers by the president and the king.
As part of the traditional inauguration of a state visit, more than 1,000 soldiers and 230 horses assembled on the parade ground in central London.
His Majesty then rode in a carriage procession with Mr. Ramaphosa down the Mall to Buckingham Palace.
As the royal party and their guests entered the palace where the King, Queen Consort, and the president are enjoying a special lunch, the band of the Scots Guards played the South African and British national anthems.
Mr. Ramaphosa, who has served as South Africa’s president since 2018, will follow tradition and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey before addressing members of parliament and lords in the Royal Gallery of the Palace of Westminster.
Later, the King will hold a black-tie supper for Mr. Ramaphosa at Buckingham Palace, where both men will deliver speeches.
The format for the visit was established under the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Pumza Fihlani reports that the president hopes to use the state visit to rally support for UK investment in South Africa to boost the country’s economic development and industries.
However, Mr. Ramaphosa’s visit comes at a time when he is being criticized for South Africa’s high unemployment rate and the resumption of daily power outages that affect households, companies, and schools for several hours.
This month, he also stated that he would “resign” if accused of covering up a theft at his private farm, which he disputes.
Mr. Ramaphosa won the support of the majority of his African National Congress’s 4,000 chapters nationally on the first day of his official visit to London, in advance of his party’s leadership meeting next month.
Former health minister Zweli Mkhize, who resigned as a result of corruption charges at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak, will challenge him for the leadership.
Dr. Tshepo Motsepe, the First Lady of South Africa, did not accompany the president on his trip to London. According to reports, she is recuperating from eye surgery and has been told not to travel.
This is the diplomatic equivalent of using the finest china and silverware to impress guests.
There are flags on the Mall, a carriage procession, honor guards, and a banquet at Buckingham Palace.
The banquet’s dinnerware dates back to the reign of George IV, and its purpose of flattering visiting dignitaries is even older.
Behind the toasts and tiaras of the visit is a significant soft-power objective. The UK’s annual commerce with South Africa accounts for 30 percent of its total trade with the African continent and is worth almost £11 billion.
As the next head of the Commonwealth, the King will wish to send a positive message regarding the strengthening of relationships.
Against the backdrop of a worsening cost-of-living problem, there will also be sensitivity to concerns closer to home. The red carpets will serve a purpose.
Mr. Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the Earl of Wessex to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, southwest London, on Wednesday.
After meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Downing Street, the South African leader will return to the palace to bid farewell to the King.
Mr. Sunak stated, “South Africa is currently the United Kingdom’s largest trading partner on the African continent, and we have ambitious plans to accelerate infrastructure investment and economic growth.
“I am looking forward to bringing President Ramaphosa to London this week to explore how we can strengthen the connection between our two great nations and capitalize on common possibilities, including commerce, tourism, and security and defense.”
In addition, the president will receive a phone call from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and attend a banquet at Guildhall with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
