CYRIL RAMAPHOSA TO BE KING CHARLES’ FIRST OFFICIAL GUEST

Buckingham Palace has announced that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will be the first official state visitor since Charles became king.

Ramaphosa accepted King Charles III’s invitation for a state visit from 22 to 24 November. The three-day visit has been scheduled for high-level talks.

South Africa, a member of the Commonwealth, will be accompanied by his wife, First Lady Tshepo Motsepe.

Charles is no stranger to welcoming South African presidents to the United Kingdom on state visits.

Al Jazeera reports that while still the prince of Wales and the duchess of Cornwall, Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, welcomed former South African president Jacob Zuma to the UK at the start of a state visit in 2010.

Before becoming king, Charles visited South Africa on several occasions, the first being 1997. One of those occasions was former president Nelson Mandela’s funeral.

Charles became king after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Image credit: Forbes Africa