Buhari's counterpart delivers keynote address during formal dinner gathering at Windsor Castle

Britain's Queen Camilla and King Charles III welcomed Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to a State Banquet at St George's Hall in Windsor Castle on March 18, 2026, marking the first day of a two-day State Visit to the United Kingdom.

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President Bola Tinubu began his address by expressing his profound honour at standing before King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, to reaffirm the enduring bonds of friendship and shared purpose between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

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He extended his sincere appreciation to King Charles III and Queen Camilla for the warmth and generosity shown to him, his wife Oluremi, and the Nigerian delegation, noting that speaking at Windsor Castle, which has served the British Crown for nearly a millennium, was a historic moment.

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Windsor Castle, a symbol of continuity, has witnessed the evolution of institutions that have shaped governance, culture, and public life in Britain and beyond, and Nigeria and the United Kingdom share a vision of progress and resilience, committed to building a future rooted in partnership and mutual respect.

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President Tinubu reflected on Britain's impact on modern democratic governance, citing the Magna Carta of 1215, which laid the foundations for the rule of law and parliamentary democracy, and the influence of great British thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Edmund Burke.

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The literary genius of William Shakespeare and writers like Charles Dickens has enriched the English language, spoken by over 1.5 billion people worldwide, and in Nigeria, elements of these traditions continue to inform the institutional foundations of the republic.

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Nigeria's courts draw upon legal traditions rooted in English common law, its parliamentary institutions reflect constitutional practices evolved in Britain, and its civil service structures have adapted administrative models developed in the United Kingdom.

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The Nigerian community in the United Kingdom is a dynamic diaspora community, with Nigerians contributing to the nation's vitality, including in the National Health Service, where Nigerian doctors and nurses play a crucial role, and Nigerian-trained doctors are among the largest groups of international medical professionals serving the NHS.

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In sport, Nigerian connections to the United Kingdom are evident in rugby players like Maro Itoje, footballers such as Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze, and champion boxer Anthony Joshua, illustrating the human connection between the two nations.

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The partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom is strengthened through the Commonwealth of Nations, which connects 56 countries under King Charles III's leadership, and Nigeria looks forward to contributing to the growth and vitality of this global community.

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Nigeria faces complex terrorism challenges in the Sahel region and carries a responsibility to help safeguard regional stability, with partnership with the United Kingdom remaining essential, and President Tinubu looks forward to his meeting with Prime Minister Kier Starmer.

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Despite challenges, Nigeria approaches the future with hope and confidence, as a nation of diverse and vibrant people, with young people dreaming big, entrepreneurs with a global outlook, and a hopeful people determined to realise their full potential.

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President Tinubu expressed confidence that the friendship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom will continue to grow, and he thanked the nation for the refuge and support extended during the dark years of military dictatorship, which remains etched in Nigeria's collective memory.

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On behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, President Tinubu thanked King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and the people of the United Kingdom for their longstanding friendship, and invited all to raise a glass to the special bond between the two nations and the bright future they shall build together.

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President Tinubu concluded by saying "God bless His Majesty The King, God bless Nigeria, God bless the United Kingdom, thank you very much".