Nigeria: The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from Wednesday, March 18 to Thursday, March 19, 2026. The King and Queen will host the State Visit at Windsor Castle, West of London.
Reportedly, the President will be accompanied by the First Lady – Olu Remi Tinubu. It was an invitation by the UK’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla in 37 years. These state visits are considered as a form of soft-power diplomacy, using the pomp of royal hospitality to strengthen relations with important international partners.
The last Nigerian state visit to the UK took place in 1989, when military ruler Gen Ibrahim Babangida travelled to meet the late Queen Elizabeth II for a four-day trip. Such state visits differ from normal official visits by countries’ leaders, with some previous Nigerian presidents having conducted official visits to the UK.
As per the sources, London and Abuja concluded a strategic partnership in November 2024 to strengthen their cooperation on economic, immigration, and security matters. Babangida’s four-day visit included a stay at a royal residence and a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace.
🇬🇧🇳🇬 The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from Wednesday, 18th March to Thursday, 19th March… pic.twitter.com/YqxAQO08Sa
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) February 7, 2026
In past, only two other Nigerian leaders had undertaken formal State Visits to the UK: General Yakubu Gowon in June 1973 and President Shehu Shagari in 1981.
Although several Nigerian presidents have travelled to the UK since 1989, those visits were categorised as private, working, or official engagements, which do not carry the ceremonial weight and pageantry of a State Visit.
Leaders such as Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Muhammadu Buhari, who attended King Charles III’s coronation in 2023, all visited under non-state designations.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has met King Charles III twice since assuming office. Their first meeting took place in December 2023 on the sidelines of the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, while a second, private meeting was held in September 2024 at Buckingham Palace, where discussions focused on climate change and global security.
Since his inauguration in May 2023, President Tinubu has undertaken over 10 foreign trips to several countries. While many were working visits, summit attendances, or private stays, several have been officially classified as state or official visits involving formal invitations and ceremonial protocols.