Today marked the beginning of the State Visit from the President and First Lady of the Republic of Korea. 2023 is the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the UK and Korea.
This is the second incoming State Visit in King Charles III’s reign, the first being when the President of South Africa visited earlier this year. However, it is the first incoming State Visit since The King’s Coronation in May.
This Visit was the first incoming State Visit since the Coronation. (Royal Family)
The visit started with The Prince and Princess of Wales greeting President Yoon Suk Yeol and the First Lady Mrs Kim Keon Hee at their hotel in London.
The Princess of Wales was seen wearing a red cape and coat by Catherine Walker and a matching red hat by Jane Taylor. She paired her outfit with her late mother-in-law’s sapphire earrings.
William and Catherine then escorted the President and First Lady to Horse Guards Parade for the Ceremonial Welcome with The King and Queen Consort.
At Horse Guards Parade, the couple were greeted by Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who warmly welcomed The President at the Royal Pavilion, decorated with the flags of the UK and the Republic of Korea. The South Korean National Anthem was played.
The President and The First Lady of the Republic of Korea received a Ceremonial Welcome. (Royal Family).
For today’s Welcome, Queen Camilla was wearing a blue dress and coat by Anna Valentine, hat with loose feathers by Philip Treacy, and paired her outfit with Queen Mary’s Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch – a dazzling addition, and piece that belonged to Queen Mary.
National figures from Westminster also joined the formal welcome including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Senior members of the UK cabinet including the recently appointed Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Home Secretary James Cleverly were also in attendance.
The Guard of Honour gave a Royal Salute before being inspected by the President and His Majesty. The President inspected two lines of F Company the Scots Guards.
The King and President inspected the guard composed of F Company the Scots Guards. (Royal Family)
The President and members of the Royal family then travelled along The Mall in carriages pulled by horses from the Royal Mews.
The Irish State Carriage carrying The King and The President were led by a mounted division made its way along The Mall.
They were followed by The Queen and the First Lady, Mrs Kim Keon Hee in the Australian State Coach, with the Scottish State Coach carrying The Prince and Princess of Wales and Deputy Prime Minister Choo Kyungho coming after.
The three carriages arrived at Buckingham Palace, where members of the Royal Family and The President and First Lady were met by a second Guard of Honour of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards. The group went on to have a private lunch.
In the afternoon, The President and First Lady viewed an exhibition in the Picture Gallery of items from the Royal Collection relating to the Republic of Korea, as is tradition for these visits.
Following a private lunch at Buckingham Palace, Their Majesties invited The President and the First Lady to view a special exhibition of items from @RCT relating to the Republic of Korea.
버킹엄 궁전에서 오찬을 마친 후 윤 대통령과 김 여사는 영국 국왕과 여왕의 초청을 받아… pic.twitter.com/QKkikU46w2
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 21, 2023
Behind closed doors, there was a presentation of gifts for The President and First Lady. The King and Queen gave the couple a silver framed signed photograph of Their Majesties and a bespoke Royal Scot Crystal whisky decanter and tumbler set, engraved with His Majesty’s cypher and the Presidential Seal.
The King gave The President a copy of ‘Stemming the Tide’ by Winston Churchill, which was hand bound at the Royal Bindery at Windsor Castle, with a bespoke dedication label.
The Queen gave the First Lady a pashmina, hand-embroidered with the Mungungwha (the national flower of South Korea) and the names of the First Lady’s dogs, which was created by embroiders from The Royal School of Needlework.
