Emotional King Charles lays wreath during start of state visit to Kenya with Camilla

The King and Queen’s state visit to Kenya kicked off with a grand ceremonial welcome in the capital Nairobi.

Charles and Camilla arrived at State House, the President’s official residence, where their hosts had rolled out the red carpet and around 100 members of the military, in their scarlet uniforms, were lined up in the forecourt to wait for their royal visitors.

Stepping out of a Land Rover Discovery, the couple were greeted with warm handshakes by the Republic’s President Dr William Ruto and the First Lady Rachel before being introduced to Kenyan Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Francis Ogalla, Chief of Kenya’s Defence Forces.

Camilla, in a white Anna Valentine crepe silk dress and a diamond oyster brooch which had belonged to Elizabeth 11, was carrying an umbrella, but luckily the rain that had persisted all morning had stopped minutes before the couple’s arrival and was replaced with bright sunshine.

On the dias in front of State House, the King and the President stood side by side in front of their national flags as a guard of honour conducted a royal salute and the Kenya Defence Force band played the UK and Kenyan national anthems. After a 21-gun salute, the King made his way to inspect the guard as the band continued to play.

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Afterwards he met Kenyan government ministers and introduced the President to James Cleverly, the UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. Charles and Camilla then commemorated their visit by planting two African fern trees (Afrocarpus gracilior) in the grounds.

On their way back to State House, they stopped at the pillared entrance to pose for a photo with the President and First Lady, before heading inside to sign guest books and hold bilateral meetings with their hosts.

While the King and President Ruto had a tête-à-tête in the President’s office and discussed “themes of common interest”, the First Lady showed Camilla a gallery of images and told her about the work of Mama Doing Good, the socio-economic development organisation she founded in 1997 to help women, youth and vulnerable people in Kenya.

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Later this morning, Charles and Camilla were told how a fig tree planted to mark the moment Kenyan independence was declared was considered a shrine and a “memory” of the country’s turbulent history. On a visit to Nairobi’s Uhuru Gardens, the King unveiled a plaque and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

The couple then viewed the Mũgomo Tree, planted on December 12, 1964 to commemorate the day Kenya was declared independent. It marks the spot where the Union flag was lowered and the Kenyan flag raised for the first time. Uhuru, in Kiswahili, means “freedom”.

The King and Queen listened intently as Samson Malaki, curator at the nearby Mashujaa Museum, which tells the story of Kenya’s history, explained the tree’s significance. “It is a tree that marks our history,” he said. “This tree is not just a historic landmark, but it is a shrine. This country was planted as a result of what we went through as a country, as a memory, as far as this country is concerned.”

He told the royal visitors that various Kenyan communities made pilgrimages to the tree to carry out cultural practices under its branches, including the offering of animal sacrifices, prayers and blessings. He told them the tree was almost 59 years old but should live for up to 300 years, and will therefore be seen by many generations to come.

He said it was considered a shrine because when branches were once cut off it, the perpetrators were struck by lightning. Mr Malaki said that no one was allowed to take cuttings from the tree and it must die naturally. The King appeared fascinated by the tree and asked if it bore fruit.

Earlier, Their Majesties were greeted by President William Ruto and his wife, First Lady Rachel Ruto, on arrival at the gardens. They walked down a receiving line, shaking hands with various local dignitaries on the red carpet. They stood for the national anthems of both the UK and Kenya, played by the Kenya Defence Forces Band, as the heavy rain that had drenched guests just minutes earlier made way for sunshine. Charles then pulled on a flag to unveil a plaque marking the occasion of their visit.

The King and President Ruto walked together along the red carpet towards the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. As they approached the memorial, they paused and stood in solemn silence as the Last Post was played. The King then stepped forward to aid the laying of a large wreath by two female soldiers on his behalf. He touched it before taking a step back and pausing briefly to reflect before President Ruto did the same.

The King and Queen then did a brief walkabout, greeting the military families who had lined up to meet them. As they shook hands, Charles referred to the inclement weather as he said “don’t get too wet.” The couple then viewed the fig tree as well as the house of Kenya’s first President, Jomo Kenyatta.