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| Queen welcomes Zuma on UK visit | Queen welcomes Zuma on UK visit |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have formally greeted South African President Jacob Zuma at the start of his three-day state visit to the UK. | The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have formally greeted South African President Jacob Zuma at the start of his three-day state visit to the UK. |
| Mr Zuma received a ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards Parade and reviewed a guard of honour with Prince Philip. | Mr Zuma received a ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards Parade and reviewed a guard of honour with Prince Philip. |
| Mr Zuma and his wife, Thobeka Madiba Zuma, then joined a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace. | Mr Zuma and his wife, Thobeka Madiba Zuma, then joined a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace. |
| Gordon Brown missed Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons to take part in the welcoming ceremony. | Gordon Brown missed Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons to take part in the welcoming ceremony. |
| South African and British officials will be hoping the trip is not overshadowed by the recent controversy at home over President Zuma's private life The BBC's Peter Biles Zuma presidency under scrutiny In pictures: Jacob Zuma UK visit Send us your comments | South African and British officials will be hoping the trip is not overshadowed by the recent controversy at home over President Zuma's private life The BBC's Peter Biles Zuma presidency under scrutiny In pictures: Jacob Zuma UK visit Send us your comments |
| The Queen rode in a lavishly-decorated Australian State coach with the president, while Mrs Zuma was joined by the Duke in a Scottish State coach. | The Queen rode in a lavishly-decorated Australian State coach with the president, while Mrs Zuma was joined by the Duke in a Scottish State coach. |
| Dignitaries including the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall also joined the procession. | Dignitaries including the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall also joined the procession. |
| Other senior figures introduced to the presidential couple included Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Home Secretary Alan Johnson, while Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, head of the Armed Forces, led the senior military officers. | Other senior figures introduced to the presidential couple included Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Home Secretary Alan Johnson, while Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, head of the Armed Forces, led the senior military officers. |
| ANALYSIS BBC's Mike Wooldridge, Buckingham Palace | ANALYSIS BBC's Mike Wooldridge, Buckingham Palace |
| President Jacob Zuma and the newest of his three current wives, Thobeka Madiba Zuma, entered the gates of Buckingham Palace amid all the pomp and splendour of the carriage procession that marks the formal start of state visits. | President Jacob Zuma and the newest of his three current wives, Thobeka Madiba Zuma, entered the gates of Buckingham Palace amid all the pomp and splendour of the carriage procession that marks the formal start of state visits. |
| Onlookers lined the Mall despite the stiff breeze. | Onlookers lined the Mall despite the stiff breeze. |
| But if the traditional rituals of such visits are being observed, President Zuma's visit is also distinctive in various ways - not least because tomorrow he will be taking a penalty at Wembley Stadium. | But if the traditional rituals of such visits are being observed, President Zuma's visit is also distinctive in various ways - not least because tomorrow he will be taking a penalty at Wembley Stadium. |
| It is symbolic, of course, but will undoubtedly bring yet more attention to South Africa's hosting of this year's World Cup. | It is symbolic, of course, but will undoubtedly bring yet more attention to South Africa's hosting of this year's World Cup. |
| In return he will be given a presentation on England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup. With the Olympic park in east London on President Zuma's itinerary too, sport looks set to play a bigger part in this state visit than perhaps any other. | In return he will be given a presentation on England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup. With the Olympic park in east London on President Zuma's itinerary too, sport looks set to play a bigger part in this state visit than perhaps any other. |
| Gordon Brown will hold talks with Mr Zuma on Thursday when the continuing political turmoil in Zimbabwe is expected to be high on the agenda, along with climate change and the global economy. | Gordon Brown will hold talks with Mr Zuma on Thursday when the continuing political turmoil in Zimbabwe is expected to be high on the agenda, along with climate change and the global economy. |
| The two leaders are also expected to discuss the football World Cup, which South Africa is hosting this summer and England hopes to host in 2018. | The two leaders are also expected to discuss the football World Cup, which South Africa is hosting this summer and England hopes to host in 2018. |
| BBC world affairs correspondent Peter Biles says Mr Zuma - a polygamist who has married at least five times - is renowned for his charm and informality. | BBC world affairs correspondent Peter Biles says Mr Zuma - a polygamist who has married at least five times - is renowned for his charm and informality. |
| However, the president felt a public backlash recently after acknowledging he had fathered a child, his 20th, with the daughter of one of South Africa's leading football officials. | However, the president felt a public backlash recently after acknowledging he had fathered a child, his 20th, with the daughter of one of South Africa's leading football officials. |
| Mr Zuma has previously faced corruption charges and has been acquitted of a rape charge. | Mr Zuma has previously faced corruption charges and has been acquitted of a rape charge. |
| State banquet | State banquet |
| After lunch in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace, Mr Zuma presented the Queen with a chess set, only to discover former South African President Nelson Mandela had beaten him to it by giving a similar one to the Duke of Edinburgh years before. | After lunch in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace, Mr Zuma presented the Queen with a chess set, only to discover former South African President Nelson Mandela had beaten him to it by giving a similar one to the Duke of Edinburgh years before. |
| He also gave the monarch an Ardmore ceramic ornamental dish featuring cheetah and palm decorations. | He also gave the monarch an Ardmore ceramic ornamental dish featuring cheetah and palm decorations. |
| Mr Zuma and his wife are in Britain until Friday | Mr Zuma and his wife are in Britain until Friday |
| In return, the Queen gave him a mounted bronze stag and a book called Hunting And Stalking Deer by Lionel Edwards and Harold Frank Wallace, dating from the 1930s. | In return, the Queen gave him a mounted bronze stag and a book called Hunting And Stalking Deer by Lionel Edwards and Harold Frank Wallace, dating from the 1930s. |
| The Queen made Mr Zuma an honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and in return was given the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo gold class. | The Queen made Mr Zuma an honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and in return was given the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo gold class. |
| It is one of South Africa's highest national honours and given to foreign Heads of State and Government for friendship shown to South Africa. | It is one of South Africa's highest national honours and given to foreign Heads of State and Government for friendship shown to South Africa. |
| Later, the president visited the former home of anti-apartheid politician Oliver Tambo in Muswell Hill, north London. | Later, the president visited the former home of anti-apartheid politician Oliver Tambo in Muswell Hill, north London. |
| He also met Conservative leader David Cameron and Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, at Buckingham Palace. | |
| The Queen is hosting a state banquet for the South African guests in Buckingham Palace's ballroom on Wednesday evening. | The Queen is hosting a state banquet for the South African guests in Buckingham Palace's ballroom on Wednesday evening. |
| On Thursday the presidential couple will visit the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, with Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell. | On Thursday the presidential couple will visit the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, with Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell. |
| Later that evening Mr Zuma will give a speech during a banquet at the Guildhall hosted by the Lord Mayor of London. | Later that evening Mr Zuma will give a speech during a banquet at the Guildhall hosted by the Lord Mayor of London. |
| On Friday, the final day of the visit, Mr Zuma will formally say goodbye to the Queen before visiting the Prince of Wales at Clarence House. | On Friday, the final day of the visit, Mr Zuma will formally say goodbye to the Queen before visiting the Prince of Wales at Clarence House. |