King Charles extended a warm welcome to Nigeria's President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Windsor Castle on Wednesday with a rare and "unusual" gesture. After a formal greeting on arrival, Charles held hands with President Tinubu as he welcomed the politician and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, to the UK for a historic two-day state visit.
The informal hand-holding moment was captured by photographers following a ceremonial welcome in the Quadrangle and gave an impression of unity between the President and the royal. A body language expert explains to Best Quality Designer Handbag that the gesture, while not typical in the UK, is commonplace in Nigerian culture and was likely offered with "kindness" to the royal.
Charles was joined by his wife, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales at Windsor to mark Nigeria's first state visit to the UK in 37 years.
A gesture of 'kindness'
Inbaal Honigman, celebrity psychic and body language expert, told Best Quality Designer Handbag of the informal moment: "The King glances downwards, as if steadying himself as he walks. It appears likely, that perhaps the King found the gravel a little tricky to walk over, and President Tinubu offered his hand to help him across."
"For the two leaders to hold hands, is certainly unusual, as British men aren't usually seen holding hands with one another. In Nigerian culture however, it is perfectly normal for men to walk close together and even hold hands," she explained.
"The King is a well travelled and cultured person, if the President's hand was offered to him with kindness, he would know that the intent is positive."
A formal greeting
Charles greeted President Tinubu with an official formal handshake and later chatted and stood side by side next to him on the dais at the ceremonial welcome at Datchet Road in Windsor. The President and the First Lady were first received earlier on Wednesday morning by the Prince and Princess of Wales at the Fairmont Windsor Park Hotel before continuing on to meet with the King and Queen.
© GettyDuring the formal ceremony, the Sovereign's Escort gave a royal salute and the National Anthem was played. The President and the King later departed for Windsor Castle in the Australian State Coach as part of the official carriage procession. They arrived at Windsor Castle to the Royal Salute and more than 1,000 troops on display.
President Tinubu and the First Lady will depart the UK on Thursday following a state banquet held in their honour.
A historic state visit
Nigeria's last state visit to the UK was in 1989 when the late Queen Elizabeth II was on the throne. During the late Queen's reign, the UK also hosted state visits in 1973 and 1981.
While this marks the first official state visit during Charles' reign, the royal received President Tinubu at Buckingham Palace in September 2024, where they were pictured shaking hands in another warm greeting. Charles has also previously visited Nigeria on several occasions over the years, including his last visit in 2018 alongside Camilla.
