Cyril Rampahosa, the president of South Africa, is taking advantage of King Charles III of Britain’s first official state visit to London.
The Prince and Princess of Wales led President Ramaphosa to the Horse Guards’ Parade for a formal greeting with the King and Camilla, the Queen Consort.
A royal guard of honor welcomed President Ramaphosa upon his arrival at Stansted Airport aboard South Africa’s official state plane earlier in the day for his two-day trip.
King Charles and the Queen Consort appeared to have a good relationship with the president because they smiled at each other as they got ready to leave for Buckingham Palace.
After touring the Horse Guards Parade and having a private audience with King Charles, Ramaphosa went into Buckingham Palace for further pictures and an official portrait with the Prince and Princess of Wales.
In keeping with tradition, Mr. Ramaphosa, who has served as the president of South Africa’s government since 2018, will place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey before speaking to lawmakers and peers in the Royal Gallery of the Palace of Westminster.
Both men will deliver speeches at a later black-tie supper that the King will host at Buckingham Palace for Mr. Ramaphosa.
His visit comes at a time when Mr. Ramaphosa is under fire for South Africa’s high unemployment rate and a resumption of power disruptions that affect residents for several hours each day.
Additionally, he stated this month that he would “stand aside” if accused with covering up a robbery at his private farm, which he denies.
