South African State Visit, 2 to 5 March 2010

The President of the Republic of South Africa and Mrs Tobeka Madiba Zuma will pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom as the guests of Her Majesty The Queen, from 3 to 5 March 2010.

During their visit, the President and Mrs Zuma will stay at Buckingham Palace.

2 March 2010
The President and Mrs Zuma will arrive in the United Kingdom on the morning of 2 March 2010 at London Heathrow Airport. They will be greeted by The Viscount Brookeborough, Lord-in-Waiting, on behalf of The Queen.

3 March 2010
The President of the Republic of South Africa and Mrs Zuma will receive a Ceremonial Welcome on Horse Guards Parade, where The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will formally greet the President and Mrs Zuma. The President, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will then review a Guard of Honour. Afterwards, the President and Mrs Zuma will join The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh for a state carriage procession along the Mall to Buckingham Palace.

After a private lunch at Buckingham Palace given by The Queen, Her Majesty will conduct The President and Mrs Zuma to the Picture Gallery to view an exhibition of South African related items from the Royal Collection.

The Earl of Wessex will call on The President in his suite at Buckingham Palace to hold talks on The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Scheme and The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment.

Later the President and Mrs Zuma will visit Westminster Abbey where the President will lay a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.

The President and Mrs Zuma will then visit Oliver Tambo’s House, in Muswell Hill, North London, to take a tour of the house and unveil a plaque to commemorate his visit. They will then visit Alexandra Park School where students will make a presentation on the Exchange Programme with Ephes Mamkeli School in Wattville, South Africa. Afterwards, the President and Mrs Zuma will visit and plant a tree at the Oliver Tambo Memorial at the Albert Road Recreation Ground.

The President will later receive calls at Buckingham Palace by the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

In the evening, The Queen will give a State Banquet for the President and Mrs Zuma at Buckingham Palace. The Queen and the President will both make speeches at the start of the Banquet.

4 March 2010
The President and Mrs Zuma will visit 10 Downing Street where the President will hold talks with the Prime Minister over breakfast, and Mrs Zuma will meet Mrs Brown. The President and the Prime Minister will give a short press conference in the State Dining Room.

The President and Mrs Zuma will visit Lewisham Town Hall where they will attend a round table discussion focussing on Lewisham Council’s approach to issues affecting young people, and view an exhibition on those issues.

Afterwards the President and Mrs Zuma will visit Sainsbury’s supermarket in Greenwich, the first Green supermarket in the world.

The President and Mrs Zuma will then visit the Olympic Park, Stratford, where they will meet the Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell, M.P., Minister for the Olympics, and take a short tour of elements of the Park.

In the afternoon the President and Mrs Zuma will visit the Palace of Westminster, where the President will address the South Africa and Africa All Party Parliamentary Groups, Members of Parliament and other invited guests in the Royal Robing Room.

Later in the afternoon the President and Mrs Zuma will visit Wembley Stadium where they will be given presentations on the 2018 Team Bid, the work of Charlton Athletic Community Trust in South Africa, and the 1Goal Commitment. The President will also give a short press conference on the 2010 World Cup, and take a penalty on the pitch.

In the evening, the President and Mrs Zuma will attend a Banquet at Guildhall given by The Lord Mayor and Corporation of London, in the presence of The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The President will make a speech at the end of the banquet.

5 March 2010
The President of the Republic of South Africa will attend a working Breakfast with principals of British and South African Industry in the South Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.

The President and Mrs Zuma will formally bid farewell to The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at the Grand Entrance, Buckingham Palace.

The President will then attend the UK/South African Business Seminar at Drapers’ Hall. Meanwhile Mrs Zuma will visit Hammersmith Hospital.

Afterwards, the President will visit Clarence House where he will be received by The Prince of Wales. The Prince of Wales and the President will meet representatives from The Prince’s Charities involved in South Africa, after which they will join a business-focussed round table discussion on climate change, youth opportunities and the built environment.

In the afternoon, the President and Mrs Zuma will attend a meeting at South Africa House with NGOs/charities working in South Africa.