King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited Kenya from October 31 to November 3, 2023. The visit was their first to a Commonwealth country since King Charles succeeded his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022.
The royal couple’s visit was focused on three main areas: climate change, sustainable development, and the future of the Commonwealth. They met with a variety of people, including government officials, business leaders, civil society organizations, and young people.
On their first day in Kenya, the royal couple was received by President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto in a lavish ceremonial welcome at the State House.
They also visited the Eastlands Library, where they met with the founders of Book Bunk, a Kenyan charity that restores public libraries.
On their second day, King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the Commonwealth War Graves Kariokor Cemetery, where they paid their respects to Kenyan soldiers who died in World War I and World War II. They also met with war veterans.
On November 2, Charles, who holds the rank of Captain General of the Royal Marines, and Queen Camilla visited the Mtongwe Naval Base in Mombasa.
The British monarch inspected an honor guard and together with President William Ruto attended a military ceremony.
The king later visited a turtle conservation site at Nyali Beach in Mombasa and saw how organizations are cleaning up the ocean and using plastic waste to make dhows, school desks, and chairs.
They departed Kenya on Friday, through Moi International Airport in Mombasa. They were seen off by President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua.
Earlier on Friday, King Charles met with faith leaders in the Women’s Chapel before sitting down with ten members of the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics.
On his first day in Kenya, the 74-year-old British head of state said, he wished to “deepen his understanding of the past wrongdoings and to also bolster a progressive partnership which will address challenges of the modern era.