King Charles III departed from long-standing royal protocol on Wednesday, choosing cultural symbolism over ceremony as he welcomed President Bola Tinubu in Yoruba at a state banquet inside St George’s Hall, Windsor Castle.

The gesture, delivered before about 160 guests, set the tone for an evening that blended diplomacy with cultural recognition during Tinubu’s two-day state visit to the United Kingdom.

“Ẹ káàbọ̀, şé dáadáa ni,” the monarch said, meaning, “Welcome, how are you doing?”, drawing laughter and a warm response from the Nigerian president, who appeared visibly amused by the effort.

The banquet itself reflected unusual adjustments. In respect to the ongoing Muslim Ramadan fast, the traditional pre-banquet lunch was skipped, marking a rare accommodation in royal hosting.

Even the menu carried a Nigerian imprint, with Zobo, a hibiscus-based drink popular in Nigeria, served alongside an array of wines, port and whisky for other guests.

The evening attracted a mix of political figures, royals and prominent Nigerians in the diaspora. Among them were Maro Itoje, Christine Ohuruogu and Ben Okri, alongside senior members of the British royal family, including Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch was also present.

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Beyond the ceremonial elements, both leaders used their speeches to emphasise shared ties between the two nations. King Charles praised the Nigerian community in Britain as a “living bridge,” describing them as “quiet heroes” who sit “at the heart of British life.”

Tinubu, in turn, echoed that sentiment, calling the diaspora “the strongest bridge” linking both countries.

The monarch also struck a reflective tone, addressing both unity and history. He stressed the need for religious tolerance, noting that “people of different faiths can, do, and must live alongside one another in peace,” while urging both nations to remain aligned “when rain clouds gather.”

Acknowledging the legacy of empire, he added: “I do not seek to offer words that dissolve the past, for no words can,” expressing hope for a future “worthy of those who bore the pains of the past.”

The visit carries historic weight. It is the first state visit by a Nigerian leader to the UK in 37 years, and the first time in nearly a century that a Ramadan-period banquet has been held for a Muslim president—last recorded in 1928 when King George V hosted Afghanistan’s King Amanullah Khan.

Earlier yesterday, Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi, were received with full military honours at Windsor Castle, including a 42-gun salute by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.