The Prince and Princess of Wales helped welcome the president and first lady of Nigeria for the U.K.’s first state visit of 2026

Kate Middleton and Prince William.Credit : Chris Jackson/Getty

Kate Middleton stuck to tradition during the royal family’s first state visit of 2026.

On Wednesday, March 18, Princess Kate and Prince William served as the royal welcoming committee as they met the president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his wife, first lady Oluremi Tinubu, at a hotel in Windsor Great Park, marking the start of their state visit to the U.K.

The foursome then traveled to Datchet Road in Windsor for the ceremonial welcome from King Charles and Queen Camilla.

The Princess of Wales, who wore a grey ensemble by British-Nigerian designer Tolu Coker for the occasion, greeted Queen Camilla with a kiss on each cheek, followed by a curtsy. Prince William, however, stuck to a less formal pair of cheek kisses to say hello to Camilla.

Kate also dipped into a curtsy for the King, greeting him with a smile as she appeared to tell him, “Good morning!”

While there are no official rules that dictate if or when one must curtsy or bow to the King and Queen, members of the British royal family, including those with His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) titles like William and Kate, are usually known to bow (for men) or curtsy (for women) to the monarch and his wife when they greet them.

Kate tends to err on the side of formality, especially during state visits. She even dipped into a double curtsy for the King and Queen during a state visit from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and first lady Elke Büdenbender in December 2025.

The gesture usually indicates that it’s the first time the royals have seen each other that day.

President Tinubu’s visit is the first state visit to the U.K. by a Nigerian leader in 37 years. Like other world leaders who have visited the U.K. in the years since Queen Elizabeth died, the president and first lady will privately visit St. George’s Chapel on Wednesday to lay a wreath of flowers on her tomb.

Per tradition, the first day of the visit will conclude with a state banquet in the Nigerian leader’s honor, with remarks from both the King and President Tinubu.

The welcome for the Nigerian state visit on March 18, 2026.JUSTIN TALLIS / POOL / AFP via Getty

Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton at the Royal Dais in Windsor during the Nigerian state visit on March 18, 2026.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty

The King, Queen, president and first lady also participated in a traditional gift exchange. King Charles and Queen Camilla gave the Tinubus with an arch-topped silver photograph frame engraved with Their Majesties’ joint cypher, enclosing a signed photograph of The King and Queen.

The King presented the president with a hand-crafted pottery plate from The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts program at the Al-Foustat Ceramics Centre in Cairo and was in turn gifted an Eyo statuette commemorating the Eyo festival.

Queen Camilla gifted the first lady a silver and enamel bowl made by Northern Irish silversmith Cara Murphy and was presented with a “Matriarchs of Nigeria” jewelry box.

Day two of the Tinubus’ visit will include visits to Westminster Abbey, to lay a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, and the Tate Modern museum, where they will view the Nigerian Modernism exhibition.

President Tinubu will also meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, and the first lady will attend a service of prayer at Lambeth Palace before being invited to preach.