Today, King Charles met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Windsor Castle. The welcome is a continued show of support from The Monarch as Mr Zelensky visits political leaders of European nations to ask for more finance and weapons to defend Ukraine against Russia.
The visit comes a day after Charles and Camilla conducted a State Visit to the Holy See.
On arrival at the Quadrangle, Zelensky was given a royal salute and the Ukrainian national anthem was played. This was Zelensky’s first ceremonial welcome to the United Kingdom. Afterwards, the President inspected the 1st Battalion of the Grenadier Guards, he said ‘thank you so much’ to the guard who led the inspection, Major Ben Tracey.
They engaged in conversation, with The King putting his arm around the President and patting him. Volodymyr was then taken into the castle for an audience with The King through the Sovereigns entrance.
After the meeting President Zelensky met with the British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, at Downing Street for a meeting of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’.
They have now met five times, three previous audiences in Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Sandringham and a reception at the European Leaders summit at Blenheim Palace.
Over the last three years, The King has been outspoken in his support of the President and Ukraine since the invasion by Russia in February 2022.
After the invasion, Charles III attended an engagement at a Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London where he met with families in the community and the ambassador. Since this he has undertaken numerous engagements with Ukrainian refugees and he has issued a message of support to Ukraine on the anniversary of the invasion every year.
During State Visits overseas, The King has also spoken in the French, German and Italian parliaments in support of Ukraine who he has said have ‘suffered unimaginably from an unprovoked full scale attack on their nation’. Most recently, Charles also said during the US State visit to President Trump ‘today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace’.
