Prince William and Princess Catherine to Play Major Role in Historic State Visit

King Charles III is set to take on the role of state host for the first time as monarch, with Prince William and Princess Catherine playing significant roles in the upcoming event.

Buckingham Palace will host a dazzling banquet for Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa, marking the first state visit to the United Kingdom in more than three years due to the Covid epidemic.

The Palace has announced the itinerary for Ramaphosa's two-day visit, revealing that Prince William and Princess Catherine will both play a significant role, with the Prince of Wales assuming the position of heir apparent.

The visit adheres to the customary structure put in place throughout the late Queen's reign.

On Tuesday morning, William and Catherine will receive the President on behalf of the King at his hotel in London.

They will then accompany him to Horse Guards Parade for the official greeting with Charles, and then join the carriage parade back to the Palace.

The couple are expected to attend the White Tie banquet on Tuesday evening, with Princess Catherine and Queen Consort Camilla in tiaras.

Both the King and the President will make speeches.

The King will host the President at a special luncheon at the Palace when he returns from Horse Guards, and the monarch will then ask him to see the exhibition of South African-related artefacts from the Royal Collection in the Picture Gallery.

In accordance with custom, Mr Ramaphosa will place a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey.

He will also pay a visit to the Palace of Westminster and address parliamentarians in the Royal Gallery before the evening state banquet.

The South African President will be escorted by the Earl of Wessex to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew on Wednesday.

In order to be able to fill in for the monarch in an emergency, the King this week requested that Parliament appoint his youngest brother Edward and sister the Princess Royal as additional councillors of state.

After meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Downing Street, Mr Ramaphosa will head back to the Palace to bid farewell to the King.

He will have a call from Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition, and spend Wednesday night with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at a Guildhall supper.

Prince William and Princess Catherine have a history of attending state banquets, including greeting the President of Singapore, Tony Tan Keng Yam, on behalf of the Queen in 2014, and joining the Horse Guards Parade ceremonial welcome.

However, historically, as the Prince of Wales at the time, Charles was typically tasked with performing this function.

The upcoming visit was in the early stages of planning before the Queen's death.

This is the first event since her passing in September, and the first state visit since Donald Trump's visit in 2019.