The UK rolled out the red carpet to host SA for a state visit for the first time under the new monarch, King Charles III. At the invitation of His Majesty, President Cyril Ramaphosa was invited to be a guest of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 22 to 23 November.
Included in the whistle-stop visit was the mandatory state banquet at which King Charles III made the official welcoming speech.
It was not without its humorous moments.
In the video, the King can be seen seated next to President Ramphosa, he stands and with his upper-class British accent proceeds to welcome the President by calling him ‘Ramafosa’. A smiling Ramaphosa maintains his demeanor by simply saying ‘wow’ as the reigning monarch goes on to greet him using multiple South African languages.
Take a look right here. Not bad Charles!
"South Africa, like the Commonwealth, has always been a part of my life... It is therefore particularly moving and special that you are our guest on this, the first State Visit we have hosted."
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 23, 2022
His Majesty The King delivers a speech at the State Banquet of the #UKSAStateVisit. pic.twitter.com/mB0JOn5mFk
As stated on South Africa’s governmental website: “Royal State Visits are the highest honor bestowed on a country by the United Kingdom in the furtherance of bilateral relations and as a symbol of respect and of the importance the UK ascribes to its relations with a particular country.
President Ramaphosa is the first Head of State to be hosted for a State Visit by His Majesty Charles III. Since 1994, bilateral relations between South Africa and the UK have grown into a strategic developmental partnership, as reflected in substantial bilateral trade.
The visit provides an opportunity for South Africa and the UK to identify new areas of collaboration in advancing economic recovery and stability and reaffirming the solid foundation between the two countries.”
