A state banquet has been adapted to respect the first state visit by a Muslim head of state observing Ramadan in nearly a century.
The King welcomed the Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to St George’s Hall in Windsor Castle for tonight’s glittering state banquet.
Mr Tinubu’s stay is the first incoming state visit by a Muslim leader during Ramadan since 1928 when King George V hosted King Amanullah Khan of Afghanistan.
The President broke his fast privately at sunset before joining the Royal Family for the banquet.
The First Lady is a Christian and an ordained Pentecostal pastor.
For the first time in living memory, canapes were offered ahead of the dinner to offer sustenance to Muslim guests who were unable to partake in iftar – the breaking of their fast.
A prayer room has also been set up in the castle for guests to use.
A royal aide said: “The visiting president is observing Ramadan and is a Muslim, so we have made some adjustments to what’s been happening today.
“At the moment, guests that are staying in the castle are observing iftar, so breaking fast, but we do recognise that for some of the guests that are attending this evening, iftar will take place when they’re travelling in the car so we’ve provided a space in the castle where they can pray on arrival.
“And we are going to serve canapes for the first time, pre-banquet reception, and that will provide sustenance because after speeches, people don’t actually start having the banquet until 9 o’clock.”
(From left to right) Queen Camilla, King Charles III, President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu. Credit: AP
A special mocktail has also been designed to celebrate the state visit. The King introduced the tradition of serving a bespoke after-banquet cocktail, but usually the drink is alcoholic.
The Crimson Bloom has been inspired by the classic Nigerian Chapman Cocktail, which is usually made with Fanta, Sprite and Angostura Bitters.
The alcohol-free version for tonight’s banquet is made with homemade hibiscus and ginger syrup, sharpened with fresh lemon and a hint of spice, and lengthened with English Rose soda.
England rugby captain Maro Itoje and his wife Mimi, Olympic 400m gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu, former Lioness and football pundit Eni Aluko, space scientist Dame Maggie Aderin, broadcaster Ade Adepitan, singer Tiwa Savage and the UK’s first black female Michelin-starred chef Adejoke Bakare are among the 160 guests who have gathered with the King, the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Guests are dining on a menu of:
Soft-boiled quail egg tartlet with watercress and kale and a basil sabayon
Filet of turbot, lobster mousse wrapped in spinach, beurre blanc sauce, sprouting broccoli with hollandaise sauce, fricasse of peas and broad beans, Jersey Royal potatoes
Iced blackcurrant souffle with red fruit coulis
The 47-metre table has been adorned with seasonal flowers and foliage from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and The Savill Gardens in Windsor Great Park.
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