Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla Host a Grand State Banquet in Honour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu
Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted a grand State Banquet at Windsor Castle on March 18, 2026, in honour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu. The glittering event in St George’s Hall marked the historic peak of the first Nigerian state visit to the United Kingdom in 37 years. To respect the President’s faith during the holy month of Ramadan, the palace made unprecedented adjustments, providing a private prayer room and serving a menu featuring poached fillet of turbot alongside a bespoke non-alcoholic “Crimson Bloom” mocktail. This allowed the President to break his fast and participate fully in the evening’s toasts, marking a significant moment of interfaith respect within the walls of the ancient castle.
In his opening address, His Majesty King Charles III championed a “partnership of equals,” describing Nigeria as an “economic powerhouse” that has not merely changed but “has arrived.” The King acknowledged the “painful marks” of shared colonial history, noting that while no words can dissolve the past, they serve as a lesson for building a future rooted in hope and growth. He highlighted the “living bridge” of the Nigerian diaspora, praising the “quiet heroes” at the heart of British life and the profound enrichment of UK culture through Afrobeats, Nollywood, and the Premier League. Closing his speech with the spirited Pidgin phrase, “Naija No Dey Carry Last,” the King reinforced the central role of the Commonwealth and the deep, modern bond between the two nations.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his response, articulated a “vision of progress” based on mutual respect and common values, noting the historic significance of being the first Nigerian leader to deliver a speech at Windsor Castle. He emphasised that the people of both nations remain the “strongest bridge” between them, citing deep-rooted collaborations in healthcare, sport, and commerce. The President highlighted that Nigeria is now investing in Britain’s future as much as Britain is investing in Nigeria’s, pointing to the expansion of Nigerian banks in the City of London as evidence of a maturing economic alliance. His remarks signalled a “renewed chapter” for Nigeria on the global stage, focused on advancing trade and strengthening diplomatic ties for the long term.
For the town of Windsor and the many tourists witnessing the event, the sight of the Nigerian flag flying alongside the Union Jack turned the historic fortress into a living stage for international unity. The presence of 160 guests—including the Prince and Princess of Wales and cultural icons like Sir Ben Okri and Tiwa Savage—showcased the UK as a global hub for African business and culture. As the evening concluded, it was clear that the “Windsor Realignment” had successfully transitioned a complex history into a generational strategic dialogue. This high-definition display of royal hospitality ensures that the partnership between these two great nations is now defined not by the shadows of the past, but by a shared commitment to a prosperous and interconnected future.
His Majesty King Charles State Banquet 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)
