Queen Camilla and King Charles attend a State Banquet at The Palace of Versailles on Sept. 20.Photo:Chris Jackson/Getty
Chris Jackson/Getty
King CharlesandQueen Camillahave a party to plan!
Early on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace announced that the King, 74, and Queen, 76, will welcome Yoon Suk Yeol, the president of South Korea, and his wife, First Lady Kim Keon Hee, to the U.K. for a state visit this fall. The date and further details are expected to be announced in due course.
King Charles and Yoon met at Buckingham Palace around this time last year. They connected at the reception for heads of state and official overseas guests held at the royal residence on the evening beforeQueen Elizabeth’s state funeral. The history-making monarch died at age 96 on Sept. 8, 2022, and her funeral at Westminster Abbey and committal service at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle were held on Sept. 19. Like many visiting dignitaries, Yoon signed a book of condolence at Church House in London that day.
South Korea’s Prime Minister Yoon Suk-yeol signs a book of condolence at Church House following the death of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022.DAVID PARRY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
DAVID PARRY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
In October 2022, King Charles sent a message of condolence to the South Korean leader following thedeadly crowd surgein Itaewon, whichThe New York Timesreported killed over 150 people.
State visits are an important part of the British royal family’s diplomatic duties, organized to strengthen relationships with other nations around the world.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee in June 2023.Antoine Gyori - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Antoine Gyori - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
“Foreign Monarchs, Presidents or Prime Ministers are invited to visit The King on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office,” the royal family’swebsiteexplains. “The programme for outward State Visits can vary widely, but incoming Visits usually feature a few regular events.”
According to Royal.UK, visits typically begin with a ceremonial welcome from the King and other members of the royal family at Horse Guards Parade. Guests are then invited to inspect a Guard of Honour before moving to the palace in a carriage procession with military escort before a marquee event that evening — a state banquet!
King Charles and Queen Camilla during a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in November 2022.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The glittering dinners are held in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace and historically seem to stipulate a white-tie dress code, wheretiarasare welcome. About 150 people are invited “on the basis of their cultural, diplomatic or economic links to the country being hosted,” Royal.UK says, and the monarch makes a speech and proposes a toast to the visiting Head of State, who does the same.
Kate Middleton, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, King Charles and Queen Camilla during a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in November 2022.Aaron Chown - Pool /Getty Images
Aaron Chown - Pool /Getty Images
News of Yoon’s upcoming state visit comes just a few days after King Charles and Queen Camilla were fêted at astate banquetduring their three-day state visit to France. Last Thursday, the King and Queen were guests of French PresidentEmmanuel Macronand his wife,Brigitte, at the historic Palace of Versailles on the outskirts of Paris on the first night of their trip, which ran from Sept. 20 to Sept. 22. Versailles was a French Royal Palace for much of its history but is now a public museum.
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Queen Camilla, King Charles, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron arrive at the state banquet at the Palace of Versailles on Sept. 20.LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty
LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty
The trip was originally planned for March, andpostponeddue to protests over changes in pensions for French workers. Fitzgerald said that the September program “remains very similar to that which was planned for March, meaning the themes of the visit are also, for the most part, unchanged."
King Charles greets schoolchildren in Bordeaux, France on Sept. 22.Samir Hussein/WireImage
Samir Hussein/WireImage
source: people.com
