Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Prince William, Prince of Wales, (L) and his wife Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales, pose with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa (C) at the Corinthia Hotel

Kate MiddletonandPrince Williamtook on an important royal role for the first state visit of King Charles III’s reign.

ThePrince and Princess of Waleswelcomed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the first meeting of his trip to the U.K.Prince Williamand Kate, both 40, were called upon to do the initial welcome at London’s Corinthia Hotel in their roles as next-in-line to the throne.

JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Prince William, Prince of Wales, (C) and his wife Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales, greet South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa (L) at the Corinthia Hotel in London

They then joined their visitor for a drive to Horse Guards Parade, where the full pageantry of the British state was on display. There,King Charles IIIwith his wifeQueen Camillamade the official welcome to President Ramaphosa. The Guard of Honour gave a royal salute and the South African national anthem was played before King Charles and President Ramaphosa inspected the troops.

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In Green Park, across the road from Buckingham Palace, there was a spectacular Royal Gun Salute from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, at 12:10 p.m. local time.

Although the president’s wife, First Lady Dr. Tshepo Motsepe, was announced to accompany her husband during the trip to the U.K. when the visitwas announced in October, she did not join him.

Queen Camilla.Leon Neal/AP/Shutterstock

Camilla, Queen Consort arrives for the Horse Guards Parade during for the welcome ceremony of the President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa

The visit is designed to help build on the close ties and friendship between the two countries. This state visit was already being prepared beforeQueen Elizabeth’s death in September — and there is a poignancy to the links, as she made one of the most important speeches of her life there, when she vowed on her 21st birthday to devote her life to the service of the country and the Commonwealth.

Later on Tuesday, after several visits around London, President Ramaphosa will be the guest of honor at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, when jewelry, tiaras and the glittering pomp of the palace will be on show.

Alastair Grant/AP/Shutterstock

President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, escorted by Britain’s King Charles III, inspect the No 7 Company The Coldstream Guards during the Ceremonial Welcome at Horse Guards Parade in London

The palace gave a sneak peek at the preparations for the banquet, sharing a video from the kitchens, where staff were in the throes of preparing the food — and edible table adornments. They showed the creation of a decoration in the shape of the national flower of South Africa, the Protea.

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It shows that the palace is getting back to some kind of normality — not only in light of the late Queen’s death and the COVID-19 pandemic but also of the ongoing renovation work at Buckingham Palace thathas been underwayfor more than three years.

Kateattended her first state banquetin 2015, helpingQueen Elizabethhost the President of China, Xi Jinping, and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan.

Early on Tuesday, the royal family’s official social media pages shared a video highlighting their relationship with South Africa through the years, including photos of the lateQueen Elizabethwith Nelson Mandela, who was the country’s president from 1994 to 1999.

Another sweet photo featured the then-Prince Charleswith his sonPrince Harryduring a visit to Dukuduku in 1997, whilePrince HarryandMeghan Markleare also featured in photos from their 2018 tour in Africa.

source: people.com