The President of South Africa and his wife will travel to the UK next month to be hosted by King Charles III, marking his first state visit as monarch.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Tshepo Motsepe have accepted the invitation to attend Buckingham Palace in November.
Mr Ramaphosa’s visit will take place from November 22 to 24 and be hosted by King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla at Buckingham Palace.
It is understood that the visit was in the early stages of planning before the queen’s death in September.
The king has visited South Africa several times since his first tour of the country, which included Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, in 1997.
His last trip was in 2011, when along with the Queen Consort, then the Duchess of Cornwall, he attended events including a speech on climate change at the University of Cape Town and a visit to the Black Rhino Range expansion project in Phinda Game Reserve.
They also attended the Nelson Mandela Foundation, where they were received by Graca Machel, the former president’s widow.
King Charles III hosts world leaders at Buckingham Palace reception - in pictures
-
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, arrives for a reception hosted by Britain's King Charles III for heads of state and official overseas guests, at Buckingham Palace in London on Sunday, on the eve of the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II. AP -
British Prime Minister Liz Truss arrives at Buckingham Palace on Sunday. AFP -
Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly arrives at Buckingham Palace in London with his wife Susannah for the reception. AFP -
US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill arrive for the reception. AFP -
Mr Biden in his presidential car 'The Beast' as it drives to Buckingham Palace on Sunday. AFP -
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte arrive for the reception hosted by King Charles. AP -
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and husband Heiko arrive for the reception. AP -
Israel's President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal arrive at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia arrive at the reception hosted by King Charles at Buckingham Palace. PA -
King Hamad of Bahrain arrives at the reception. AP -
Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad, Crown Prince of Kuwait, arrives at Buckingham Palace. AP -
Oman's Sultan Haitham arrives at the reception. AP -
Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan arrives for the reception. AP -
Queen Rania of Jordan arrives at Buckingham Palace with King Abdullah II (not shown). AP -
Jordanian King Abdullah and Queen Rania arrive. AP -
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim walks into the reception hosted by Britain's King Charles. AP -
Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia arrive at the palace. AP -
World leaders and heads of state arrive for the reception at Buckingham Palace in London. PA -
World leaders and heads of state arrive for the reception at Buckingham Palace in London. PA -
World leaders and heads of state arrive for the reception at Buckingham Palace in London. PA -
World leaders and heads of state arrive for the reception at Buckingham Palace in London. PA -
World leaders and heads of state arrive for the reception at Buckingham Palace in London. PA
King Charles was also at Mandela’s funeral in 2013, remarking that the world would be a “poorer place without him” and that he was owed “an enormous debt of gratitude for what he’s managed to achieve with his life”.
The king and the queen consort, then the prince of Wales and duchess of Cornwall, also welcomed President Jacob Zuma at the start of a state visit in the UK in 2010.
Mr Ramaphosa is facing allegations of money laundering that threaten his position at the head of Africa’s most developed economy.
He has denied the accusations, which include illegally holding about $4 million in cash at his game ranch in northern South Africa, and covering up its theft to try to hide the existence of the money.
King Charles III confirmed as king in accession ceremony in London — in pictures
-
King Charles III addresses the Accession Council at St James's Palace, London, where he is formally proclaimed monarch. PA -
King Charles automatically became British monarch on the death of his mother, but the Accession Council, attended by privy councillors, confirmed his role on Saturday. PA -
From left, William, the Prince of Wales, Queen Consort Camilla and King Charles III during the Accession Council meeting at St James's Palace. PA -
The Accession Council met without Charles to proclaim him sovereign — officially confirming his title, King Charles III — before the monarch joined them to make a series of oaths and declarations. PA -
More than 200 privy councillors – a group of mostly senior politicians past and present, some members of the monarchy and other national figures – were present to hear the Clerk of the Council read the proclamation. PA -
Prince William and the queen consort, both privy councillors, were among those who formally proclaimed Charles as king. PA -
From second left, Prince William, the queen consort, Prime Minister Liz Truss, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell attend the Accession Council ceremony at St James's Palace in London. PA -
From left, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and former British prime ministers Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Boris Johnson attend the Accession Council ceremony. AP -
London Mayor Sadiq Khan talks to security as he arrives at St James's Palace for the Accession Council ceremony. Reuters -
Former British prime ministers Theresa May, front left, and John Major, centre, and Baroness Scotland arrive for the Accession Council ceremony at St James's Palace. AP -
The Archbishop of Canterbury, left, arrives at St James's Palace in London for the Accession Council ceremony. Bloomberg -
Penny Mordaunt, UK leader of the House of Commons, arrives at St James's Palace for the proclamation ceremony. Bloomberg -
Police officers stand guard at St James's Palace before the proclamation of King Charles III on Saturday, September 10, 2022, in London. Getty
