King Charles Hails Nigeria as the UK’s ‘Living Bridge’ at Historic Windsor State Banquet

King Charles III has described Nigeria as the United Kingdom’s ‘living bridge’ to Africa in a warmly received address at the State Banquet held in honour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu at Windsor Castle on Wednesday evening — the centrepiece of Nigeria’s first state visit to Britain in 37 years. The King, joined by Queen Camilla and other members of the Royal Family, praised the roughly 300,000-strong Nigerian community in the United Kingdom for their contributions to British society in medicine, law, culture, finance and the arts. The banquet was notably adapted out of respect for the holy month of Ramadan: meat was removed from the menu — an unprecedented gesture for a royal state dinner — and the traditional formal luncheon was replaced with an evening engagement to observe Muslim fasting hours. President Tinubu, who arrived at Windsor in a ceremonial carriage procession alongside the King following a Guard of Honour at Datchet Road, spoke warmly of the deepening ties between the two nations and the shared democratic values that underpin the partnership. Earlier in the day, the President and First Lady visited the Royal Collection exhibition, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II at St George’s Chapel, and participated in interfaith dialogue sessions organised by the Palace. The Duke of Edinburgh, who visited Nigeria in November 2025 to meet Tinubu, was also present.