United Kingdom (Commonwealth Union)_ King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee who are currently on a three-day state visit to the UK at a glittering banquet at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
Britain rolled out the red carpet for a formal state visit aimed at strengthening trade and defense ties between the two countries.
The government of UK hopes the Korean leader’s three-day visit will help cement an “ Indo-Pacific tilt ” in its foreign and trade policy.
King Charles paid tribute to South Korea’s political and economic advances and celebrated its culture.
Princess Kate looked glamorous as she stunned in a white gown by one of her favourite designers, Jenny Packham, along with dramatic opera-style gloves, and earrings that belonged to the late Queen.
The Princess of Wales paired her outfit with the Strathmore Rose tiara, wearing it for the first time ever, giving it its first outing since 1930, when it was last seen worn by the late Queen Mother, as she attended King Charles’ glittering state banquet at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night. The rarely-seen 100-year-old tiara has not been seen in public for more than 90 years.
Princess Kate received it as a wedding gift back in 1923 and the tiara features silver and gold roses. It can be worn on top of the head just as Princess Kate chose to wear it, or across the forehead as a bandeau.
Queen Camilla also dazzled by wearing a stunning red velvet evening dress by Fiona Clare pairing it with the late Queen’s rarely-seen ruby and diamond Burmese tiara.
She also sported ruby and diamond earrings from her private collection and the late Queen’s ruby and diamond necklace as well.
The Burmese tiara was last worn by the late Queen at the state banquet for Donald Trump, then-US president in 2019.
Princess Elizabeth received a wedding gift of 96 rubies from the people of Burma, when she married the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947, symbolically chosen in the belief the rubies would protect her from 96 diseases. The rubies were made into the Burmese tiara in 1973 by Garrard.
The King Meanwhile, wore his Garter Star and the Thistle Star along with the neck order which is the sovereign’s badge of the Order of the Bath.
He also wore the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, presented to him by the South Korean president at the exchange of gifts at Buckingham Palace.
Earlier Tuesday King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed President Yoon and his wife at Horse Guards Parade, a military parade ground in central London. Heir to the throne Prince William and government ministers also attended the welcome ceremony, where the King and President inspected rows of soldiers from the Scots Guards in gray tunics and bearskin hats.
The visiting couple travelled down an avenue lined with British and Korean flags to Buckingham Palace, by horse-drawn coach.
President Yoon also is scheduled to hold talks Wednesday with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak focused on trade, technology and defense. A defense agreement will see the two nations’ navies work together to curb smuggling and to enforce U.N. sanctions imposed on North Korea to curb its nuclear weapons ambitions.
UK and Korean officials also will officially launch talks on an “upgraded” free trade agreement to replace their current deal, which largely replicates the arrangements the United Kingdom had before it left the European Union.
Prime Minister Sunak and President Yoon are expected to sign an agreement covering cooperation in defense and technology, including artificial intelligence. Britain hosted the first international AI Safety Summit this month, and South Korea intends to hold a follow-up event next year.
