Princess Kate prepares for major role at event today

The Royal Family are hosting the Nigerian president for a historic state visit to the UK today.

The Princess of Wales is bracing to take on a major role today as Britain rolls out the red carpet for the Nigerian president’s state visit. King Charles and Queen Camilla will host Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, at Windsor Castle on a day expected to be full of pomp and pageantry.

It is the first state visit to the UK by a leader of the West African nation in 37 years, and also the first incoming state visit by a Muslim leader during Ramadan in almost a century. Princess Catherine will join her husband today, Prince William, and greet the Nigerian president and his wife at the luxury spa hotel Fairmont Windsor Park, on the edge of Windsor Great Park, in the morning and escort them to the town centre to formally meet the King and Camilla.

The royals and their guests will then travel in a carriage procession through Windsor, a show of traditional pomp and pageantry, to the castle’s quadrangle to see the Guard of Honour for the ceremonial welcome. Later in the day, they will host a lavish banquet at Windsor Castle.

Windsor bracing for Nigerian guests

Windsor is preparing to welcome its Nigerian guests shortly, with British and Nigerian flags and banners raised throughout the town.

Thames Valley Police said extensive security measures are being deployed in the Berkshire town, as the event takes place against an international backdrop of the deepening Middle East crisis.

Guards line Windsor High Street beneath Nigerian and Union Jack banners (Image: Getty)

Police carry out security searches in Windsor High Street (Image: Getty)

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7 hours ago09:28 Sophia Papamavroudi

Nigeria president begins first UK state visit in 37 years

Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, will soon be welcomed to the UK by the Royal Family.

It will be the first state visit to the UK by a leader of the west African nation in 37 years, and also the first incoming state visit by a Muslim leader during Ramadan in almost a century.

Three previous state visits took place in 1973, 1981 and 1989.

King Charles, as Prince of Wales, has visited Nigeria on four occasions – in 1990, 1999, 2006 and 2018.

King Charles and president Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Image: Getty)

8 hours ago09:17 Sophia Papamavroudi

Good morning

Good morning, I’m Sophia Papamavroudi and today, along with my colleague Hanisha Sethi in Windsor, we’ll be bringing you all the latest updates from day one of Nigeria’s historic visit to the UK.

Stay tuned.