It's been a while since I put up an If this is Tuesday post but I wanted to make sure I added a couple of photos from last week's visit by the Nigerian President and his wife to the UK.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu were welcomed by The Prince and Princess of Wales. The Princess wore a beautiful coat highlighting a British-Nigerian designer, Tolu Coker, which had an interesting corset design at the back. It was hard to find a really good photo, but I think this one gives you a good idea.
The ceremonial welcome was held at Windsor Castle, and I loved this photo of King Charles III assisting President Tinubu down the steps from this dias as they walked over to the inspect the Guard of Honor.
That evening, there was all the pomp and ceremony the British do so well at a state banquet, attended by British Royals, Nigerian officials, business leaders, and cultural figures of Nigerian heritage.
The Princess of Wales looked stunning in an emerald green gown by Andrew Gn, one of the colors of the Nigerian flag. Sartorial dressing for the win on this state visit.
It was interesting to read about the adaptations that were made to the menu as President Tinubu's stay in the UK is the first incoming state visit in nearly 100 years by a Muslim leader during the holy month of Ramadan, during which many Muslims fast and refrain from eating between dawn and sunset.
A special mocktail, a twist on the classic Nigerian drink, the Chapman, usually a mix of Sprite, Fanta, cucumber, grenadine syrup, and Angostura aromatic bitters, is one of a number of adaptations made at the banquet. Canapes were offered ahead of the dinner to offer sustenance to Muslim guests who were unable to partake in iftar - the breaking of their fast - earlier at sunset.
The menu featured fish rather than a traditional meat course with fillet of turbot, lobster mousse wrapped in spinach, beurre blanc sauce, sprouting broccoli with Hollandaise sauce, fricassee of peas and broad beans, and Jersey royal potatoes for the main. The starter was vegetarian consisting of a soft-boiled quail egg tartlet with watercress and kale and a basil sabayon, and the dessert was an iced blackcurrant souffle with red fruit coulis.
I would love to work in the Protocol office that researches the details that go into a state visit and the particularities of various cultures when coming up with the perfect menu.
If you enjoy mocktails, check out the details here.
I loved reading about all the details from the state visit.
ReplyDeleteLove the thought and good intentions that go into the planning.
ReplyDeleteSo many interesting details that most of us don't realize. I think researching it before the visit would be fun as well as nerve wracking!
ReplyDeleteOh this was a fun and interesting post! Thank you for sharing! That emerald dress!!! Stunning!
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