King Charles III paid tribute to his late mother on Tuesday as he hosted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at a state banquet.
The king said Queen Elizabeth admired the country's “people, its vibrancy, natural beauty and diversity”.
He spoke of his mother’s long relationship with the Commonwealth nation during a speech at the banquet to mark Mr Ramaphosa's two-day state visit to the UK.
The monarch also mentioned the sometimes troubled past relationship between the two nations that “provoke profound sorrow”.
But he said: “We must acknowledge the wrongs which have shaped our past if we are to unlock the power of our common future."
Strictly star Johannes Radebe, originally from South Africa, was among the 163 guests at the white-tie dinner, joining broadcaster Zeinab Badawi, interior designer Kelly Hoppen and endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh.
Royal glamour was on show, with the Queen Consort, Princess of Wales and Countess of Wessex wearing lavish banquet gowns and sparkling tiaras.
Leading national figures were also presen,t from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to Lord Hain, the former Northern Ireland secretary and anti-apartheid campaigner, and Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England.
King Charles drew a gasp from Mr Ramaphosa, who said “wow” when the monarch said “welcome” in six languages spoken in South Africa.
“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," the king said.
"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.
“During one of my own visits to South Africa, in 1997, President Mandela told me that he had conferred on my mother a special name – Motlalepula, meaning ‘to come with rain’.
“I have been reassured that this was a mark of the particular affection President Mandela felt for the queen … rather than a remark on the British habit of taking our weather with us.”
The South African leader was earlier welcomed with a ceremony of pomp and pageantry at Horse Guards Parade with the King hosting a state visit for the first time as monarch.
Mr Ramaphosa was escorted to Horse Guards Parade, in central London, close to Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, for the official welcoming ceremony.
More than 1,000 soldiers and 230 horses took part in the event, with two immaculate lines of foot guards from the Coldstream Guards Number 7 Company on duty.
Nearby, in gleaming breast plates and plumed helmets, were members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, made up of Life Guards and The Blues and Royals, commanded by Maj Robert Perera.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were part of events for the first time, travelling to Mr Ramaphosa's luxury hotel in central London and accompanying him to Horse Guards Parade.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Britain and South Africa would join forces to “turbocharge infrastructure investment and economic growth together”.
Queen Consort Camilla was first to leave the state coach as she stepped down from the carriage while holding on to her clutch bag.
The king followed and turned to wait for Mr Ramaphosa, gesturing towards the steps.
In the Buckingham Palace Picture Gallery after lunch, he was shown artefacts from the Royal Collection.
Mr Ramaphosa picked up a photograph of the late Queen Elizabeth II standing side by side with former South African president Nelson Mandela at a state banquet at the palace in 1996, saying: “This is a lovely picture.”
They also came across a photograph of King Charles with the Spice Girls in South Africa in 1997.
The king also showed Mr Ramaphosa a copy of the speech that the late queen delivered on her 21st birthday in Cape Town
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 place the country on a travel blacklist in response to the spread of the Omicron variant last year, which led to a sharp rise in the number of Covid-19 cases there.
Meanwhile, South Africa's refusal to back votes condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the UN has caused consternation in many western capitals.
On the agenda of talks 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 from its dependence on coal, which has made it one of the world's major emitters of carbon.
What will happen for the rest of the visit?
Mr Ramaphosa will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, as is traditional, and also visit the Palace of Westminster, giving an address in the Royal Gallery to politicians.
On Wednesday, the Earl of Wessex will escort the South African leader to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, south-west London.
Mr Ramaphosa will then visit Downing Street to meet Mr Sunak, before returning to the palace to bid farewell to the king.
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
Gulf Under 19s
Pools
A – Dubai College, Deira International School, Al Ain Amblers, Warriors
B – Dubai English Speaking College, Repton Royals, Jumeirah College, Gems World Academy
C – British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Yasmina Academy
D – Dubai Exiles, Jumeirah English Speaking School, English College, Bahrain Colts
Recent winners
2018 – Dubai College
2017 – British School Al Khubairat
2016 – Dubai English Speaking School
2015 – Al Ain Amblers
2014 – Dubai College
Copa del Rey final
Sevilla v Barcelona, Saturday, 11.30pm (UAE), match on Bein Sports
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
