King Charles III will welcome South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to London next week as he prepares for his first state visit as Britain's reigning monarch.
Mr Rampahosa will be received by the king and Queen Consort Camilla at a glittering banquet at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
The trip will be the first state visit to be held in the UK for more than three years due to the Covid pandemic.
It is also the fourth state visit by a South African leader since the country's transition to democracy in 1994.
The event will once again cast the spotlight on King Charles following his ascension to the throne after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The queen hosted important diplomatic events for more than seven decades without putting a foot wrong — a habit which her successor will hope to emulate.
Prince William, in his new role of Prince of Wales, alongside his wife Kate, will also play a major part the visit.
Why is the visit important?
Britain is hoping the two-day visit will strengthen bilateral ties with the resource-rich Commonwealth nation, particularly as diplomatic relations have become strained in recent years.
South Africa was angered over the UK's move to travel blacklist the country in response to the threat from the Omicron variant in 2021, which caused Covid cases there to skyrocket.
Meanwhile, South Africa's refusal to back votes condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the UN has caused consternation in many western capitals.
Also on the agenda will be the environment and climate change, an issue close to King Charles's heart.
Britain has pledged $8.5 billion to help South Africa transition away from its dependence on coal, which has made it one of the world's major emitters of carbon.
King Charles III hosts world leaders at Buckingham Palace reception — in pictures
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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
What will happen during the visit?
The Prince and Princess of Wales will greet the President at his London hotel on behalf of King Charles on Tuesday morning, travel with him to Horse Guards Parade for the ceremonial welcome with the monarch, and join the carriage procession back to the palace.
The prince and princess are expected to attend the white-tie banquet on Tuesday evening, with the Princess of Wales and Queen Consort Camilla in tiaras. Both the king and the South African President will make speeches.
The visit follows the traditional format adopted during the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth.
On his return from Horse Guards, the king will host the president at a private lunch at Buckingham Palace and then invite him to view an exhibition in the Picture Gallery of items from the Royal Collection relating to South Africa.
Mr Ramaphosa will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, as is tradition, and also visit the Palace of Westminster, giving an address in the Royal Gallery to politicians, before the evening state banquet.
On Wednesday, the Earl of Wessex will escort the South African leader to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew.
Mr Ramaphosa will then visit Downing Street to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, before returning to the palace to bid farewell to the king.
He will receive a call from the leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer, and on Wednesday evening attend a Guildhall banquet with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
King Charles coronation date announced — in pictures
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King Charles III's coronation will be held on Saturday, May 6 next year, Buckingham Palace has announced, eight months after the monarch’s accession and the death of Queen Elizabeth. Getty Images -
King Charles III salutes as he leaves Westminster Abbey following the state funeral service of Queen Elizabeth II. AP -
King Charles follows behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as it is carried out of Westminster Abbey. Reuters -
King Charles attends the state funeral of his mother. Reuters -
King Charles meets faith leaders during a reception at Buckingham Palace. Getty Images -
King Charles in silhouette at Buckingham Palace as he meets faith leaders. AFP -
King Charles attends a vigil alongside Queen Elizabeth's coffin inside Westminster Hall. Getty Images -
King Charles leaves following the Vigil of the Princes, during which he and his siblings stood watch over their mother Queen Elizabeth's coffin at Westminster Hall. Getty Images -
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla enter Westminster Hall as the coffin completes its journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. Getty Images -
King Charles follows the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as it is carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, during the ceremonial procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. Reuters -
King Charles meets members of the public as he leaves the Senedd in Cardiff, Wales, after a visit to receive a Motion of Condolence following the death of Queen Elizabeth. PA -
King Charles meets troops during a reception at Hillsborough Castle, County Down, Northern Ireland. PA -
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla at Westminster Hall, London, where both Houses of Parliament met to express their condolences following the death of Queen Elizabeth. PA -
King Charles greets mourners as he walks by the gates of Buckingham Palace following the death of Queen Elizabeth. AP -
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla view floral tributes left outside Buckingham Palace. AP
Who is Cyril Ramaphosa?
This will be Mr Ramaphosa’s fifth visit to the UK, following events including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the Group of Seven Summit in Cornwall and the queen's funeral.
Mr Ramaphosa is a former anti-apartheid activist and prominent businessman who has amassed a personal fortune estimated to be worth half a billion dollars.
In 2017, he replaced Jacob Zuma as the head of the ANC, the party of Nelson Mandela that has dominated South African elections in the post-apartheid period.
Mr Ramaphosa is himself no stranger to controversy and has been embroiled in a money laundering scandal that threatens his position.
The President 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 in an attempt to hide the existence of the money.
