This autumn marks many firsts for King Charles III, including his first major speech to a foreign leader. The 74-year-old hosted his first state banquet as King when South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited London.
Not only is this the first state banquet under The King’s reign, but it also marks the first state visit of his reign.
During his welcoming speech, the monarch touched on Britain’s controversial history of colonialism. Condemning the actions, The King said he hoped there could be cooperation between Britain and South Africa despite any wrongdoings in the past.
“While there are elements of that history which provoke profound sorrow, it is essential that we seek to understand them.
“As I said to Commonwealth leaders earlier this year, we must acknowledge the wrongs which have shaped our past if we are to unlock the power of our common future.”
In response, President Ramaphose was seen nodding his head.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries, including South Africa. The country first joined the Commonwealth in 1931 and left in 1961. The country was then re-admitted into the Commonwealth in 1994. Other countries in the Commonwealth include Canada, Jamaica, Nigeria, India, and Australia.
King Charles also spoke on how South Africa has always been a part of his life, just like the Commonwealth, which was led by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, for decades. Honouring The Late Queen, the new King spoke on the relationship his mother had with former South African presidents.
“The late Queen had the great pleasure of hosting Presidents Mandela, Mbeki and Zuma for State Visits to the United Kingdom, at all of which I was present. On each of those occasions, she expressed her admiration for your country and its people, its vibrancy, natural beauty and diversity.
“And she always talked warmly of her return to your country in 1995, as the guest of President Mandela, after the momentous events – driven from within South Africa and supported by so many around the world, including here in the United Kingdom – that brought democracy to your country.”
The speech marked a significant move from the King in his attempts to keep the Commonwealth together despite rising republican sentiment in different Commonwealth nations.
Hours before the banquet, King Charles, Queen Camilla, and President Ramaphosa toured the Picture Gallery of the palace together, where they viewed items from the Royal Collection related to South Africa. Among those items was Queen Elizabeth II’s iconic speech on her 21st birthday during a special radio address in Cape Town, where she pledged her life to her duties.
