King Charles III has recalled that parts of Britain’s shared history with Nigeria have “left some painful marks,” while stressing that relations between the two countries are now anchored in hope, partnership and mutual growth.
The King made the remarks on Wednesday evening at a state banquet held at Windsor Castle in honour of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, which is the first Nigerian presidential state visit to the United Kingdom (UK) in 37 years.
Addressing guests, the monarch said the deep ties between the United Kingdom and Nigeria were inseparable from a difficult past.
“There are chapters in our shared history that I know have left some painful marks.
“I do not seek to offer words that dissolve the past, for no words can, but history is not merely a record of what was done to us. It is a lesson in how we go forward together,” he said.
Nigeria was under British colonial rule from 1914 until independence in 1960, a period during which its political and economic structures were shaped to serve imperial interests.
While acknowledging that legacy, the King praised Nigeria’s transformation, declaring that the country “hasn’t merely changed. It has arrived.”
He described Nigeria as a nation of more than 230 million people, with a youthful population defined by “energy, ingenuity, ambition and resolve” to confront global challenges.
Pointing to deepening economic ties, the King said Nigeria became the UK’s largest export market in Africa in January 2026.
He stated that Nigerian visitors spent £178m in Britain in 2024, while more than 250,000 Britons travelled to Nigeria, spending a comparable amount.
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The monarch also spoke about the growing commercial footprint of Nigerian institutions in Britain, saying banks operating from the City of London and companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
UK Export Finance, he added, is backing investment in Nigerian port infrastructure.
Paying tribute to the Nigerian diaspora, the King said Britain was “blessed” by the more than half a million people of Nigerian heritage living in the country.
He described them as a “living bridge” enriching British culture, from Afrobeats and Nollywood to sport and public life.
In a lighter moment, he recalled hosting a “Jollof and Tea Party” at St James’s Palace for young Nigerians supported by the King’s Trust, joking diplomatically about the long-running West African debate over who makes the best jollof rice.
The King also acknowledged President Tinubu’s travel during Ramadan, wishing him peace and blessings, and reflected on his own 2018 visit to Nigeria, when he met traditional rulers including the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife.
Turning to global cooperation, the monarch disclosed the role of the Commonwealth of Nations, hoping that Nigeria would take “her rightful place at the heart of the Commonwealth” as it evolves to meet modern challenges.
Quoting Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo proverbs, the King concluded his 12-minute address with a toast to President Tinubu and the people of Nigeria, wishing Muslims in both countries an early Eid-el-Fitr.
The state visit, running from March 18 to 19, is expected to yield a series of agreements on trade, investment, defence and culture, including a £746m financing package for port refurbishment in Lagos.