The Royal Family welcomed South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa to Buckingham Palace this evening, which also marked King Charles' first State Banquet as monarch.
Another significant event for King Charles was welcoming South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier today. Tonight, attendees will savor a magnificent buffet that also features brill and braised fondant potatoes.
King Charles welcomes this special guest
According to Town And Country, guests will be treated to a Windsor pheasant and a £75 port during King Charles' inaugural State Banquet at Buckingham Palace.
Another significant moment for the new monarch was when Charles greeted Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, earlier today. On this formal occasion, the Thistle Star, the Garter Star, and three small medals are worn by King Charles (for the Gold, Diamond, and Platinum Jubilee).
It comes after the King requested that Parliament appoint his sister, Princess Royal, and his youngest brother, Edward, as additional Counselors of State, allowing Edward to serve as the monarch's replacement if necessary.
Kate Middleton paid tribute to late Queen
Kate Middleton and Prince William also arrived dressed for the occasion. Both the Queen Consort and the Princess of Wales honored the late Queen by attending their first State Banquet in their new positions while donning the late Queen Elizabeth II's jewelry. Kate donned the late Queen's pearl bracelets and Diana, Princess of Wales' earrings tonight, while Camilla chose the Queen's beloved diamond and sapphire tiara.
At a magnificent evening event at Buckingham Palace in honor of the president of South Africa, the two joined the King, the Prince of Wales, and more than 160 other guests.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and the Duke of Kent are other royals who have arrived. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Lord Speaker John McFall, Baron McFall of Alcluith, and Baroness Amos are some of the other prominent visitors tonight.
What's included in the menu?
According to the BBC, the most recent state visit by a head of state took place in the gardens of Buckingham Palace in 2019 with former US President Donald Trump.
As he started a two-day diplomatic visit to the UK, Mr Ramaphosa was warmly welcomed by the King and the Queen Consort Camilla earlier today. He will receive a special, opulent dinner from His Majesty that includes stuffed Windsor pheasant and grilled brill with wild mushrooms tonight, reports the Mirror.
Other dishes are quite different from those under Queen Elizabeth II's reign, as the King is a strong advocate of plant-based food given his care for animal welfare. A variety of Chantenay carrots, greens with roasted butternut squash, braised fondant potatoes, and salad were a few of the sides.
Among the wines for sale are a Pomerol 2000, a Château Feytit-Clinet, and Taylor's Vintage Port 1983, which costs £75, says Standard.
Only environmentally friendly flowers are allowed
The King specifically instructed that only environmentally friendly flowers be used today on the enormous supper table. Flowers from the palace grounds and Windsor Castle were used to decorate the large horseshoe-shaped table that was put up for 163 guests in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace.
The table was also lined with thousands of tiny individual-stem glass vases, each loaded with pink, crimson, and purple flowers. This was a novel addition to the typical floral centre-pieces at dinners throughout the late Queen's reign.
‘It was the King's decision to ask for sustainable flowers’, a representative for the monarch stated.
They come from the gardens of Windsor and Buckingham Palace and are all in season. They haven't been airlifted in from all around.
Read more:
⋙ British Royal Family: Is King Charles the richest royal?
⋙ Here's everything King Charles eats in a day
⋙ King Charles III: The Monarch's birthday celebration plans
