Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla will host Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for a state visit to the United Kingdom in March, marking the first such visit by a Nigerian leader in 37 years.
According to official information, the state visit will take place from March 18 to 19 at Windsor Castle. It will be the first UK state visit granted to Nigeria since 1989, when former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, visited Britain.
State visits are among the highest forms of diplomatic engagement and are typically reserved for countries with which the United Kingdom seeks to underscore strong political, economic and cultural ties. The visit is widely seen as a signal of the UK’s continued recognition of Nigeria as a strategic partner in Africa.
Trade relations between both countries remain significant, with bilateral trade valued at more than £8 billion in the year ending October 2025. In 2024, the two countries also signed a Trade and Investment Partnership aimed at expanding business opportunities and strengthening economic cooperation.
President Tinubu has previously met King Charles on several occasions, including during a reception at Buckingham Palace in September 2024 and at the COP28 climate summit held in Dubai later that year. While details of the March programme have not yet been made public, state visits customarily include ceremonial events such as carriage processions and state banquets, alongside official talks between political leaders.
King Charles has maintained longstanding ties with Nigeria through the Commonwealth. Before ascending the throne, he visited the country four times as Prince of Wales—in 1990, 1999, 2006 and 2018. Queen Camilla accompanied him during the 2018 visit.
In 2023, the King’s Trust International, formerly known as The Prince’s Trust, launched an initiative in Nigeria focused on addressing youth unemployment and supporting young entrepreneurs.
The upcoming visit is expected to further strengthen diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, particularly in areas of trade, investment, climate action and youth development.
