King Charles breaks 'royal protocol' with president of Nigeria during first state meeting

King Charles III has appeared to break 'royal protocol' with the president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The two-day visit commenced yesterday (18 March) with Tinubu's stay in the UK marking the first by the west African nation's leader for 37 years and the first incoming visit by a Muslim leader during Ramadan in nearly a century.

A state banquet was held in the castle’s St George’s Hall on Wednesday evening for Tinubu and his wife, first lady Oluremi Tinubu among other guests.

Eid-al-Fitr, the Islamic holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan, begins on Thursday evening (19 March), which is when the president and his wife will depart from the UK.

Among the guests were Queen Consort Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and stars from the Nigerian diaspora including England rugby captain Maro Itoje and his model wife, Mimi; and Sir Ben Okri, the poet and Booker Prize-winning novelist.

King Charles III welcomed the president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his wife, first lady Oluremi Tinubu, for their state visit on Wednesday (CHRIS JACKSON / Contributor / Getty Images)

In a symbolic gesture showing the ties between the two heads of the state, president Tinubu took Charles' hand as the foreign leader looked down as he stepped off a Windsor Castle dais and continued to hold it as they walked inside the royal residence.

Now, while such rules regarding 'royal protocol' aren't written down per se, tradition has seen many members of the British royal family still sticking to them to this day.

With that said, they may take a more far relaxed approach to such protocol now than they would have done or a century or so ago.

According to the BBC, traditionally, people weren't allowed to touch a Royal unless one offered their hand.

Buckingham Palace said there was 'genuine warmth and mutual respect' from the King and the president (Chris Jackson / Staff / Getty Images)

It's clear that this generation of royals don't strictly adhere to such a rule, with Charles proving just that yesterday.

"There was genuine warmth and mutual respect from the King and the president," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said of the state visit. "As demonstrated from their two speeches, there exists a strong friendship and wealth of opportunity between our two nations.

"With the complexity of geopolitical issues across the world, it underscores the importance of standing close and proud with our Commonwealth partners."

In the castle’s St George’s Hall on Wednesday, the King said: "I believe firmly that, when rain clouds gather, we can tighten the grip of friendship between us and, in so doing, reinforce the central role of the Commonwealth in our shared future.

It was the first state visit to the UK by a Nigerian leader in nearly four decades (WPA Pool / Pool / Getty Images)

"As the world changes, these are lessons we must heed now more than ever. As the Hausa saying goes, 'when the music changes, so does the dance'."

Charles added: "The many dynamic connections between our two nations have deep roots and yet I do not pretend that those roots are without a shadow.

"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 I do believe, as I know you believe, Mr president, that history is not merely a record of what was done to us – it is a lesson in how we go forward together to continue building a future rooted in hope and growth for all, and worthy of those who bore the pains of the past."