South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa with King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort
King Charles spoke of the strong friendship between the late Queen Elizabeth and Nelson Mandela when the King hosted a state visit by the current president of South Africa.
At a banquet at Buckingham Palace, the King welcomed Cyril Ramaphosa and hailed the cultural and trade links between the UK and South Africa.
But the king also acknowledged the difficult legacy of colonialism.
He said there were “elements of that story that provoke deep sadness”.
“We must acknowledge the mistakes that shaped our past if we want to unlock the power of our common future,” the king said.
The first state visit of his reign, King Charles spoke of previous meetings between the royal family and former president Mandela of South Africa, who he praised for helping to move his country towards democracy.
The king called for future partnerships that would help tackle the “existential threats of climate change and biodiversity loss”.
He had introduced his speech by using “Welcome” in six different languages to South Africa.
In response, Mr Ramaphosa recalled the love of the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Mr Mandela, who died in 2013, and how they corresponded over many years.
The banquet, with toasts and speeches, is a traditional highlight of a state visit, with more than 160 guests in the ornate surroundings of the Buckingham Palace ballroom.
The guests, each place with six different glasses and used a 4,000-piece dinner service dating back to George IV, had a starter of brill and a main course of pheasant.
At the head of the table, in addition to the King and the South African visitors, were the Queen Consort, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The Princess of Wales is wearing a bracelet that belonged to Queen Elizabeth and earrings that belonged to Diana, a former Princess of Wales.
For her first state visit as Queen Consort, Camilla wore a sapphire and diamond tiara that had belonged to the late monarch.
The connection between the late Queen and Nelson Mandela was remembered at the state banquet
The Princess of Wales wore a pearl bracelet that belonged to the late Queen, as well as Diana, Princess of Wales earrings
Mr Ramaphosa’s trip to Britain was the first state visit for more than three years after being halted during the Covid pandemic.
After a ceremonial welcome at the Horse Guards Parade, a carriage parade and lunch at Buckingham Palace, the South African President laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey.
He also addressed MPs and peers in the Royal Gallery of the Palace of Westminster.
BBC South Africa correspondent Pumza Fihlani said Mr Ramaphosa, who has been South Africa’s head of government since 2018, hopes to use the state visit to boost support for UK investment in South Africa – for economic development and industry to strengthen the country.
But his visit comes at a time when the president faces criticism over South Africa’s unemployment levels and a return to power outages that affect households, businesses and schools across the country – almost every day for several hours at a time.
This month he also said he would “stand down” if he is charged over an alleged cover-up of a robbery on his private farm, which he denies.
On the day the state visit to London began, Mr Ramaphosa received the support of a majority of his African National Congress’ 4,000 branches across the country ahead of his party’s leadership conference next month.
The South African First Lady, Dr. Tshepo Motsepe, is recovering from eye surgery and has been advised not to travel to London.
Mr Ramaphosa gave a speech in the Houses of Parliament attended by Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle
Mr Ramaphosa laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey
In a joint address to members of both houses of parliament on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Ramaphosa called for improved trade and investment links between the UK and South Africa to help his nation deal with its issues with power cuts.
He also said he would urge Rishi Sunak to vote for a threefold increase in the number of South African university students studying for doctorates in the UK when they dine at Number 10 on Wednesday.
Earlier, the Earl of Wessex escorted Mr Ramaphosa to the Royal Botanic Gardens, in Kew in south-west London.
The South African leader will then visit Downing Street to meet Mr Sunak, before returning to the palace to bid farewell to the King.
The president is also set to receive a call from Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer and attend a Guildhall banquet with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
What is the only state with an official meal?
Oklahoma’s official state food became one of the state emblems through House Concurrent Resolution 1083, approved in 1988 by the forty-first legislature. The food includes an extensive menu that reflects Oklahoma’s cultural background and the state’s historic and contemporary agriculture.
What is the meaning of state banquet?
(steɪt ËbæÅkwɪt) a formal banquet for the head of a country. Last night he attended a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
What is night meal called in USA?
Dinner and supper are both used to refer to the main meal of the day, and especially to that meal eaten in the evening. Dinner is especially used when the meal is an informal meal that is eaten at home, while dinner tends to be the term chosen when the meal is more formal.
What is the exact meaning of supper? noun sup·âper ËsÉp-Ér. : the evening meal especially if the meal is eaten at noon. : a social affair with a dinner party. : a light meal served late in the evening.
What time is dinner vs supper?
Dictionary.com defines dinner as an evening meal or any light evening meal, while dinner is described as “The main meal of the day, eaten in the evening or at noon.” Another dinner definition is a formal meal in honor of a person or occasion.â Therefore, during the holidays, we traditionally call all…
What are the 5 meals a day called?
Meals of the day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper
- Breakfast is the first meal of the day.
- Lunch is lunch. This is the one you eat during your lunch break – not in the morning and not in the evening. …
- Dinner is the main meal of the day. …
- Dinner is the last meal of the day.
What time is supper?
What time is supper? Dinner is always an evening meal. The specific hour of the evening depends on when you feel hungry and how late you stay up! You can have an early dinner at 5pm or a late dinner at 10pm.
Why dinner is called supper?
Supper comes from the word “sup”, and it is also related to the German word for soup (“suppe”). According to the English Language & Usage Stack Exchange, families would set a pot of soup to simmer throughout the day and eat it later in the evening, which was also known as “supping” the hot soup.
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