The Chinese President Begins State Visit to Britain

The Chinese State Visit to the United Kingdom began this morning at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London where the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall greeted President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan and accompanied them to Horse Guards Parade for the official welcoming ceremony.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were on hand for the formal welcome, with the President and Prince Philip inspecting a guard of honour ahead of an elaborate carriage procession to Buckingham Palace for lunch.

After lunch, the official party viewed an exhibition of Chinese related objects from the Royal Collection. President Xi and his wife later had tea at Clarence House with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, before the President met with Prince William at Buckingham Palace.

In the evening, the Queen hosted a state banquet in honour of President Xi. A large contingent from the Royal Family was in attendance for the banquet: the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (wearing a red bespoke Jenny Packham gown and the Lotus Flower Tiara), the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra of Kent and Princess Michael of Kent.

Both leaders acknowledged the visit as being a defining moment in bilateral relations between the UK and China, and both said they hoped for a continued strong bond in the future.

Queen Elizabeth delivers a speech during the state banquet for the Chinese President at Buckingham Palace, October 20

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Bilateral Relations, China, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, President Xi of China, Princess Alexandra Lady Ogilvy, Princess Michael of Kent, State Visit, The Duchess of Cambridge, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke of Cambridge, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke of Gloucester, The Duke of Kent, The Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex, The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.