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Astate visit is a formal visit by thehead of asovereign country (orrepresentative of the head of a sovereign country) to another sovereign country, at the invitation of the head of state (or representative) of that foreign country, with the latter also acting as theofficial host for the duration of the state visit. Speaking for the host, it is generally called astate reception. State visits are considered to be the highest expression of friendlybilateral relations between twosovereign states, and are in general characterised by an emphasis on official public ceremonies.
A less formal visit, with less emphasis on ceremonial events, can be classified in descending order of formality as anofficial visit, anofficial working visit, aworking visit, aguest-of-government visit, or aprivate visit.[1][2]
Inparliamentary democracies, while heads of state (or their representative) may formally issue and accept invitations, they do so on theadvice of theirheads of government, who usually decide on when the invitation is to be issued or accepted in advance.
Queen Elizabeth II was the most travelled head of state in world history, having made 261 official overseas visits and 96 state visits to 116 countries by the time of herDiamond Jubilee in 2012.[3] Although she was sovereign of each of theCommonwealth realms, in practice, she usually performed full state visits asQueen of the United Kingdom, while the relevantgovernor-general undertook state visits for their respective country on the sovereign's behalf. However, the Queen occasionally made some state and official visits representing one of her other Commonwealth realms.
State visits typically involve some or all the following components (each host country has its own traditions):
The visiting head of state (or their representative) is usually accompanied by a senior government minister, usually by aforeign minister. Behind thediplomatic protocol, delegations made up fromtrade organizations also accompany the visiting head of state, offer an opportunity to network and develop economic, cultural, and social links with industry leaders in the nation being visited. At the end of a state visit, the foreign head of state (or representative) traditionally issues a formal invitation to the head of state (or representative) of the nation being visited who at another time in the future, would pay a reciprocal state visit.
While the costs of a state visit are usually borne by state funds of the host country, most nations host fewer than ten state visits per year, with some as few as two. Most foreign heads of state (or their representative) will stay in theofficial residence of the head of state (or representative) who is hosting the state visit, in a guest house reserved for foreign visitors, or in their own nation'sembassy located in the foreign nation being visited.
State visits by well-known global leaders or figures, such as theBritish monarch, thepresident of the United States or thepope, often draw much publicity and large crowds. Occasionally, these include protesters.
State visits toArmenia are held in the capital ofYerevan, with a welcoming ceremony usually being held atZvartnots International Airport. Foreign heads of state are welcomed at thePresident's Residence while heads of government are welcomed at theResidence of the Prime Minister. These visits consist of the following components:
| Rank of visitor | State dinner | Arrival ceremonies | Exchange of diplomatic gifts | Meeting with religious leaders | Address to the National Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister's Residence | President's Residence | Airport | ||||||
| State visit | head of state | Yes | No | Yes | Maybe | Yes | Yes | Maybe |
| Official visit | head of government | Yes | Yes | No | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
Since 1991, foreign leaders who embark on visits to Armenia have paid tribute to the victims of theArmenian genocide at theTsitsernakaberd complex.[4] During a visit to the complex, most leaders receive a tour of the museum, plant trees near the memorial, and lay wreaths at the eternal flame.
A state visit in Belgium starts with an inspection of the troops in front of theRoyal Palace of Brussels, whereafter theKing andQueen have a private audience with the visiting head of state and their spouse. The first day of the state visit traditionally comes to a close with a state banquet at theRoyal Palace of Laeken, which is the official residence of theKing and Queen of the Belgians.
It is customary to be awarded the Knight Grand Cross of theOrder of Leopold during state visits.
The Office of Protocol coordinates the operational aspects of state and official visits to Canada and manages all events that are related to the visit. It also defines the protocol standards for state visits of heads of state and government.[5]
TheGovernor General's Foot Guards, one of twohouseholdfoot guards, take part in state and official visits toOttawa. Arrival ceremonies take place at eitherParliament Hill orRideau Hall, where the visitor will be received by thegovernor general of Canada (for state visits) orprime minister of Canada (for official visits). State visits also include a visit to theNational War Memorial.
State and official visits by Canada are performed by theCanadian monarch or a representative—the governor general, alieutenant governor, or another member ofthe royal family. The first state visit by Canada was to the United States in 1937, when the US accorded the governor general the equivalent status given to a visiting head of state.[6]
Tours of Canada by the country's monarch (and other members of the royal family) are not state or official visits, as the monarch conductsroyal tours in his capacity as the Canadian head of state, not as a foreign head of state. Additionally, because the Canadian sovereign is shared with 14 otherCommonwealth realms, state visits are not conducted between realms, with official visits performed by the realms' respectivegovernor-general, orprime minister.
State arrival ceremonies inChina take place at the East Court of theGreat Hall of the People onTiananmen Square inBeijing. The guard of honour for the ceremony is provided by theBeijing Garrison Honor Guard, with musical accompaniment provided by theCentral Military Band of the People's Liberation Army of China.
As the military band plays the national anthems of the two countries, an artillery battery fires a 21-gun salute. After the band finishes its performance, the two leaders then inspect the guard of honour at the invitation of the guard commander. Following the inspection, both leaders embrace schoolchildren who wave flowers and the flags of both countries. At this time, the band performs a military march or folk song from the guest country. If a prime minister or chancellor or crown prince visits China, the welcoming ceremony is held by the premier. If a president, governor-general or king visits, the welcoming ceremony is held by the president.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Honor Guard then marches off the square to the tune of theMarch of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The ceremony ends with the marching band of the PLA performing anexhibition of military drill.[citation needed]
During state visits, national awards are presented to visiting dignitaries, including theOrder of Friendship. Since 1954, the State Protection Unit has providedmotorcades for visiting dignitaries traveling from the airport to their meeting place.[7]
A 30-minute ceremony at the Plaza of theNational Theater and Concert Hall inTaipei takes place to honor visiting dignitaries to theRepublic of China (Taiwan). After the anthems are played, the president escorts the visitor past the tri-service honor guard of theRepublic of China Armed Forces, led by a colonel. After inspecting the troops, thepresident of Taiwan delivers welcome remarks, after which the foreign leader speaks, before receiving a key to the city from themayor of Taipei, and the director of the Department of Protocol of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs then introducing members of the cabinet to the dignitary and members of the delegation to the ROC president.[8]
The military welcome accorded to foreign leaders atPrague Castle are provided by troops of thePrague Castle Guard,Honor Guard of the Czech Armed Forces, theCzech Army Central Band, theBand of the Castle Guards and Police and units of thePrague Garrison Command.
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The Protocol Services of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for arranging high-level international visits and Finland's own state events. The task of the protocol services is to take care of receiving, escorting, accommodation, transportation and meal arrangements for guests.[9]
In Finland, state visits usually follow a certain pattern that has already become a tradition. The official reception ceremonies take place in front of thePresidential Palace or alternatively atHelsinki Airport. At the reception ceremony, the head of the visiting country, together with thePresident of Finland, inspects the guard of honor to the rhythm of theBjörneborgarnas marsch. After the inspection of the honor guard and the performance of the national anthems, the heads of state greet the public from the balcony of the Presidential Palace, from where they move to the yellow salon to drink welcome toasts, take official photos and exchange gifts and badges of honor.[10]
Usually, the official program includes at least the laying a wreath onMarshal Mannerheim's grave at theHietaniemi Cemetery,[11] and a visit to theParliament House or theHelsinki City Hall.[10] The visit usually ends with state dinners held at the Presidential Palace, where the heads of state give their speeches.[10]
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State arrival ceremonies are held at either theElysee Palace orLes Invalides, with the participation of the Infantry and Fanfare Band of theFrench Republican Guard Band and the 1st Infantry Regiment of theRepublican Guard. The Vestibule d'Honneur (Hall of Honour) in the Elysee is where thepresident of France meets visiting dignitaries and holds bilateral meetings. Towards the end of the visit, the head of state or governments will give a speech at thePalais Bourbon to theSenate of France, and will hold meetings with members of parliament. Sometime during the state visit, the visiting dignitary will lay a wreath at theTomb of the Unknown Soldier at theArc de Triomphe.
State visits in Georgia are held outside thePresidential Palace of Georgia inTbilisi. Ceremonial honours are provided by the Honour Guard and theBand of theNational Guard of Georgia. The band plays Georgian Army songs during the inspection of the honour guard. During the presidency ofMikheil Saakashvili, the band played theMarch of the Preobrazhensky Regiment during state visits.
During state visits, dignitaries usually meet with theprime minister,chairperson of the Parliament, and theCatholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia separately from the president. State dinners are also held inside the presidential palace with officials from both countries present.
During state visits to Germany, honours are provided by the GermanWachbataillon (Guard battalion) and theStaff Band of the Bundeswehr. An exception to this was on 3 May 2007 during the visit of French PresidentJacques Chirac to Berlin, during which theFranco-German Brigade provided the honors. Depending on the status of the guest, state ceremonies are either held at theBellevue Palace or theFederal Chancellery Complex. In recent years, state visits have been marked with dignitaries paying homage at memorials such as theBerlin Victory Column, theMemorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and theSoviet War Memorial (Tiergarten).
During state visits, foreign dignitaries typically visit German federal states outside the capital. It this regard, a full honors ceremony is also held with the minister-president being the presiding officer.[12][13] In break with the traditionalBerlin military protocol, chairs have since July 2019 been set up outside the Chancellery due to ChancellorAngela Merkel's unusual episodes of shaking and uneasiness during the honours ceremony. Currently, only Moldovan PremierMaia Sandu and Danish Prime MinisterMette Frederiksen have had to be received under this arrangement.[14]
Foreign leaders are received at theRashtrapati Bhavan inNew Delhi during state visits. The dignitary first receives the salute from thePresident's Bodyguard (PBG), and theTri-Services Guard of Honour. Heads of state are also given a 21-gun salute, with a19-gun salute being toheads of government. The massed bands and the commander of the guard of honour is chosen by a rotation between the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. In 2015, Wing Commander Pooja Thakur became the first female officer to lead the guard of honour for a foreign leader.[15] All military honours are organized by Section D of theMinistry of Defence.[16]
State banquets are also held for foreign dignitaries at theRashtrapati Bhavan which are hosted by thepresident of India. Over 100 guests are invited to attend state banquets, including thevice-president of India, theprime minister of India, as well asgovernment officials and leaders of the rulingparty.
Thepresident of the State of Israel, in their position as head of state, leads the welcoming events and is the official host of foreign leaders who visitIsrael. A guard of honor made up of personnel of all the service branches of theIsrael Defense Forces (IDF) are usually lined up at the main V.I.P terminal ofBen Gurion International Airport. Following the British precedent, the chief of military protocol reports to the visitor, in Hebrew:
While historically, guests were also greeted by a21-gun salute, the practice has since been discontinued.[17]
During some state visits, the itinerary has included a visit to theYad Vashem memorial. There the leader, accompanied by the prime minister, will rekindle the Eternal Flame, and will also lay a wreath in memorial of the 6 million Jews murdered in the holocaust.
When dignitaries arrive in the Italian capital ofRome, they are received in a short reception ceremony at the airport by the head of the Diplomatic Ceremonial Office among other officials, who then briefly entertain the guest in the boardroom to allow the handling of airport formalities. Arrival honors for foreign dignitaries visitingRome are held either at theQuirinal Palace (official residence of the president of the Italian Republic) or thePalazzo Chigi (official residence of the prime minister of the Italian Republic). During the ceremony, the guard of honor is provided by a military unit (most likely theCorazzieri and a selected ceremonial unit such as the Honour Company "Goito" from the 1° Regiment "Granatieri di Sardegna") and a supporting military band that performs 3Ruffles and flourishes known as "Onori" ("Honors") prior to playing the national anthem of the dignitary's home country andIl Canto degli Italiani. In recent years, theBersaglieri, theCarabinieri, and theItalian Navy have provided honor guards for the ceremony.
The rest of the day includes bilateral meetings, one on one conversations, a joint press conference, and a state dinner, where the exchange of gifts and the awarding of honors takes place. The next day sees the laying of wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in theAltar of the Homeland. All protocol events in the capital are organized by the State Ceremonial Office. In particular, the Ceremonial Office of the Ministry of Defense handles protocol related to theItalian Armed Forces, and the Diplomatic Ceremonial Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handles protocol related to the diplomatic corps.[18]
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Japan extends invitations for state visitors and official visitors aims to promote the friendship and relation between Japan and the country of the invitee.[19] In addition to state and official visits, the Japanese government also extends several other forms of invitations to visit the country.
The invitation of official practical visitors, practical visitors, and visitors toJapan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs aim to promote negotiations, to strengthen security and to be used for policy coordination, etc.
The invitation of ministers is an invitation extended to ministers from other countries, and aims to have them deepen their understanding of Japan and send information about Japan based on the knowledge obtained through invitations through conference, inspection, etc. with JapaneseVIPs and experts.
The invitation of strategic practitioners is an invitation extended to certain members in certain positions or those who are expected to hold a certain leadership position in the future, in political, economic, governmental, academic, etc., in foreign countries or international organizations. It aims to promote understanding of Japan's various policies and fields such as culture and society, to facilitate the promotion of Japan's foreign policy through personal connections with Japanese experts, and to promote pro-Japan in the medium- and long-term through briefings with private experts, Japanese cultural experiences, and local visits.
| Visitor | Stay | Reception[20] | Talk withEmperor | Luncheon | Banquet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Visitor | Monarch, president, etc.[21] | Akasaka Palace[22] | Yes | Yes[23] | Luncheon withthe prime minister | Banquet atthe palace |
| Official Visitor | Prince, prime minister, etc.[24] | Akasaka Palace[22] | Yes | Yes[25] | Luncheon at the palace | Banquet with the prime minister |
| Official Practical Visitor | A person equivalent to a state visitor or an official visitor[26] | A strictly secured public accommodation | No | Yes[25] | No | No |
| Practical Visitor | A person equivalent to a state visitor or an official visitor[27] | A public accommodation | No | Yes/No[28] | No | No |
| Visitor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Thesecretary-general of the United Nations, etc.[29] | A public accommodation | No | No | No | No |
During the state visits by people belonging to the upper two categories, guards of honour are mounted by theImperial Guard of the National Police Agency and the302nd Military Police Company of theJapan Self-Defense Forces.
State visits are planned in accordance with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs one month in advance. Arrival ceremonies for state visits to Kyrgyzstan typically take place atManas International Airport with the participation of theHonour Guard Battalion of the 701st Military Unit of the National Guard and theBand of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Kyrgyzstan.[30] A wreath-laying ceremony is also held atVictory Square. A bilateral meeting, press conference, and state dinner are all held at theAla Archa State Residence.
The Kyrgyz official welcoming group includes the chairman of the Supreme Council, the prime minister, and the minister of foreign affairs. The official morning breakfast reception takes place from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Arrival ceremonies are also held at the state residences all over the country.[31]
A state visit by PresidentEmmanuel Macron of France from 23 to 25 April 2025 was declared apublic holiday.[32]
State visits toMexico City are held on a regular basis.[33] Arrival ceremonies are usually held at theNational Palace, the president's workplace or atMexico City International Airport. On certain occasions, a full honors ceremony with the participation of theNational Guard's Presidential Guards Corps are held atCampo Marte, where the corps' two military police brigades are stationed.
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The arrival ceremony begins with a platoon of National Guards presenting arms at the arrival of the state guest at the entrance of the National Palace. After the state guest arrives with thepresident of Mexico (and their first partner, if present) in the palace' south courtyard the NG's Presidential Guards honor guard company presents arms while theRepresentative Music Band of the Mexican Armed Forces plays the anthems of the two countries (theHimno Nacional Mexicano is always played first). Then the president of Mexico introduces members of their cabinet before the visiting dignitary introduces members of their delegation accompanying them on this visit. After this is done, the commander of the National Guard's honour guard company then delivers the following report to the dignitary:
The president and the dignitary then inspect the guard, paying homage to theMexican flag and the flag of the guest country along the way. The ceremony then ends and the two go into the palace to begin their bilateral meeting. TheCampo Marte ceremony is similar in style to the palace ceremony with the main differences being a21-gun salute,opening remarks, and themilitary parade being added to the program. The unit responsible currently for the 21-gun salute is the State Honors Artillery Battery, coming under the 1st Artillery Battalion (Separate) of the 1st Army Corps.
The State Diplomatic Protocol (SDP) of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova organizes activities concerning state visits to the Moldovan capital ofChișinău.[34] All state arrival ceremonies take place at the Presidential Administration or thePresidential Palace, involving theHonor Guard Company and thePresidential Band. During the inspection, the foreign guest will greet the personnel of the company in theRomanian language (the dignitary will saybuna ziua or "good morning" to which the soldiers will respond by sayingsalutari or "greetings"). Foreign guests may also visit theGagauz capital ofComrat.
State visits to Morocco typically involve a reception by theking of Morocco, government officials and members of the royal family, as well as astate dinner offered by the king at theRoyal Palace of Rabat. The visiting leader may also make a speech to a joint session of the country'sparliament.[35][36][37]
State visits in theNetherlands revolve around and are centered on the capital ofAmsterdam. A characteristic of a state visit is that it is usually carried out by a foreignhead of state, rather than ahead of government. Upon arrival to the country, the dignitary will be given a tour through the capital, which includes a wreath-laying ceremony at theNational Monument. Foreign dignitaries are usually received by the monarch at theRoyal Palace of Amsterdam, where they receive a guard of honour formed by theGrenadiers' and Rifles Guard Regiment upon arrival. It is here where all matters of state and bilateral meetings take place over the course of the visit.
During a state visit, theDutch monarch always hosts astate dinner in honor of the guest, sometimes at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam and at other times at the monarch's residence at theNoordeinde Palace in The Hague. It is customary to be awarded the Knight Grand CrossOrder of the Netherlands Lion during state visits.
Although state visits toNorth Korea do not happen often, they are held to the highest standard when they occur. Portraits of the visiting leader and theSupreme Leader of North Korea are hung all over the city and atPyongyang Sunan International Airport, where the arrival ceremony takes place. During the ceremony, the Guard of Honour Company of theKorean People's Army'sSupreme Guard Command, made up of servicemen from the Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Special Operations and the Strategic Forces, together with a platoon of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards renders honours while theCentral Band of the KPA performs the visiting anthem andAegukka, the anthem of the DPRK. After this, the commander of the guard reports to the leader before they inspect the troops and review a marchpast.[38] They then ride in amotorcade that takes them to the Paekhwawon State Guest House and or the Kumsusan Guesthouse for bilateral negotiations.[39][40][41][42] The former guest house was first used for state visits in the early 2000s for the visits ofMadeleine Albright andJunichiro Koizumi and became relevant once again during the2018–19 Korean peace process.[43] The latter was only built in the spring of 2019 in time for the visit of theChinese President andGeneral Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. En route to the guesthouse, aKorean Children's Union guard of honour company takes its position to award an honorary red neckerchief to the visiting leader in the name of all members present, and in addition, flower bouquets can be given by representatives on behalf of the KPA, the people of Pyongyang, and the city government.
Notable state visits held in the 21st century were those bySouth Korean leaders such asRoh Moo-hyun in 2007 andMoon Jae In[44] in 2018, as well as Chinese leaderXi Jinping that same year. During Xi's visit, he became the first ChineseParamount leader to visit theKumsusan Palace of the Sun and took part in the reopening of theArirang Mass Games atRungrado 1st of May Stadium.[45] For many state visits, theKorean People's Army State Merited Chorus and Symphony Orchestra have performed pieces native to the visitors homeland, such asKatyusha duringVladimir Putin's visit in 2000. Other lower-level world leaders who have undertaken state visits to the DPRK include Cuban leaderMiguel Diaz-Canel in November 2018 and Mongolian PresidentTsakhiagiin Elbegdorj in 2013, with the latter being played down as it did not include a meeting with ChairmanKim Jong Un.[46]
State visits to the Norwegian capital ofOslo begin with the inspecting of the 3rd Company,Hans Majestet Kongens Garde at theRoyal Palace by the visiting dignitary and the Norwegian monarch. Once they are in the palace, the monarch takes the dignitary to the Bird Room to engage in an exchange of gifts. The visit also includes a wreath-laying ceremony atAkershus Fortress, which is also an official residence of theprime minister of Norway. In the evening, a gala dinner hosted by theroyal family of Norway is held at the Royal Palace in honour of the visiting head of state.[citation needed]
As it refers to state visits by themonarch of Norway, they are always accompanied by the Norwegian foreign minister and representatives of theGovernment. Between two and four state visits to Oslo and royal visits to other countries are made per year, usually by the reigning monarch.[47]
In the Philippines, state visits are organized by theDepartment of Foreign Affairs and theOffice of the President, adhering to established diplomatic protocols. Visiting dignitaries typically arrive atVillamor Air Base inPasay. Upon arrival, they are accorded military honors and welcomed by local government officials, usuallyCabinet members, and occasionally, thePresident of the Philippines. For instance, duringPope Francis'svisit in 2015, he was welcomed by then-PresidentBenigno Aquino III and several Cabinet officials.[48]
A customary component of state visits is the wreath-laying ceremony at theRizal Monument inRizal Park,Manila, where the visiting dignitary is received by theMayor of Manila. This act honors Dr.José Rizal, widely considered to be thenational hero of the Philippines, and symbolizes the visiting leader's respect for Filipino history and values.[49][50]
The official welcome continues atMalacañang Palace, where the visiting leader is received at theKalayaan Hall Grounds. Arrival honors are rendered once more, including the playing of both national anthems by amilitary band. Afterwards, they ascend the grand staircase and sign the Official Guest Book in the Reception Hall. Later that evening, a state dinner is hosted in honor of the visiting leader, often held at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room or the Rizal Ceremonial Hall. The event includes an exchange of toasts and may feature cultural performances showcasingFilipino heritage. As a gesture of goodwill, the Philippines may confernational honors upon the visiting dignitary, such as theOrder of Lakandula or theOrder of Sikatuna.[51]
To ensure public safety and facilitate the smooth conduct of state visits, local authorities may declare suspensions of classes and government work. In 2015, several local governments and schools suspended class during Pope Francis's visit due to road closures for the pontiff's motorcade.[52][53] During Chinese leaderXi Jinping'sstate visit to the Philippines in November 2018, the government of Manila and thebarangays ofFort Bonifacio,Pinagsama, andWestern Bicutan inTaguig suspended classes and government work due to road closures and security.[54]
State visits take place on a regular basis inPoland. Ceremonial honours a provided by theRepresentative Honor Guard Regiment of the Polish Armed Forces at thePresidential Palace. Musical accompaniment is provided by theRepresentative Central Band of the Polish Armed Forces.
The White Hall in the Presidential Palace is used to host foreign heads of state. The hall is located at the main entrance from the courtyard, where the welcoming ceremony takes place.[55]
The Department of State Protocol of theRussian Foreign Ministry is responsible for organizing the itinerary for state visits to the country. It was founded on 18 December 1991, by Decree No. 291 of PresidentBoris Yeltsin on the basis of the Foreign Policy Service of the RSFSR. The decree, in effect, provided a new unified protocol practice in theRussian Federation.[56] Its duties range from organizing invitations to the country to developing an event schedule for the dignitary's visit. Common practices organized by the department include protocol events meetings, wreath-laying, breakfast, and lunch, among others. The Presidential Protocol Office in thePresidential Administration of the Russian Federation also serves a similar purpose.[57]
A foreign head of state or government receives arrival honours from the154th Preobrazhensky Independent Commandant's Regiment and theSpecial Exemplary Military Band upon their arrival at the VIP terminal atVnukovo International Airport inMoscow, where they are usually greeted by the Russian deputy foreign minister. Heads of state also take part in a welcoming ceremony with thepresident of Russia in the Hall of theOrder of St. George of theGrand Kremlin Palace.
The following is Estonian diplomatTiit Matsulevitš's opinion on Russian protocol for state visits:
"Russian diplomacy has a centuries-old tradition, I consider the Russian protocol to be one of the best in the world. The protocol service of Russia is very correct."[58]
— Tiit Matsulevitš,Estonian Ambassador to Russia from 1999–2001
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State visits to theKingdom of Spain are held with the participation of theKing andQueen of Spain. The day's events begin as the visiting dignitary arrives in a special vehicle at thePalacio Real in the Spanish capital ofMadrid. As the dignitary arrives, units of theSpanish Royal Guard (including the Mounted Band of Timpani and Bugles and the Lancers Troop) prepares for the start of the arrival ceremony. The ceremony starts with all unitspresenting arms at the sound of a bugle call and performing a royal salute, with the playing of the guest anthem and theMarcha Real taking place. Once the regiment is orders arms, three senior officers from the guard (a senior commander, a bugler and a guidon bearer) approach the central grandstand to report to the guest and the king on the readiness of the regiment for inspection. They then begin their inspection, reviewing the infantry as well as the mounted units. Once the review is complete, a large military parade in the forecourt of the palace is held with the massed bands playing military music as the units march past.
The other notable state ceremony that takes place in the palace is the state dinner, which is hosted by the king, and is attended by the visiting dignitary, their delegation, theSpanish royal family, theprime minister, and other government officials. During the course of the visit, the visiting leader may deliver an address to a joint session of the bicameralCortes Generales (composed of theSenate and theCongress of Deputies).
State visits toUkraine are managed by the Main Department on State Protocol and Ceremonies of theOffice of the President of Ukraine as well as the State Protocol Department of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs. State visits involve thepresident of Ukraine, thechairman of the Verkhovna Rada, and theprime minister of Ukraine. Heads of state are met at theBoryspil International Airport, during which they are met by children in Ukrainian national costumes handing them bread. after which they are driven to theMariinskyi Palace to receive a guard of honour from theKyiv Presidential Honor Guard Battalion.[59] Thebattalion band performs national anthems of both countries, during which a 21-gun artillery salute. As the guest bows their head to thestate flag of Ukraine, they greet the honor guard with thebattle cry ofGlory to Ukraine (the official greeting of theArmed Forces of Ukraine[60]). After the ceremony, negotiations and a working breakfast/lunch are arranged in honor of the guest. InKyiv, there is a tradition of laying wreaths at theTomb of the Unknown Soldier, the ceremony of which is as follows: a march of the three man team carrying a wreath through the Alley of Glory, wreath laying in front of the eternal flame, performance of national anthems, a march past of a guard of honour. On the first day of the visit, as a rule, a public dinner is held on behalf of the president of Ukraine in honor of the head of state in the Red Hall. At the end of the state dinner, a concert of musicians is held in the White Hall. Protocol stipulates that a state visit lasts longer (3–4 days) than an official visit (2–3 days).[61]
TheUnited Arab Emirates Air Force does a flyover while painting the sky in the colors of the visiting country's flag as the visiting leader's car arrives at thepresidential palace with an Army mounted escort. Upon arrival, the visiting head of state is greeted by thepresident of the United Arab Emirates or the deputy supreme commander of theUnited Arab Emirates Armed Forces, where they both receivemilitary honors from theUnited Arab Emirates Presidential Guard as well as a21-gun salute from members of the Army. While inside the palace, they are also greeted by children holding flags of the UAE and of the visiting country. The entire city ofAbu Dhabi is usually decorated for the visit, with flags laid out in the streets and large pictures of the two countries' leaders erected on large buildings. During the visit ofVladimir Putin in October 2019, police cars were sprayed with theCyrillic letters "ДПС", which stands for "Дорожно-патрульная служба" (English:Roads Patrol Service).[62][63]
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A state visit to theUnited Kingdom is a royal event which involves the King and other members of the royal family. An arrival ceremony usually takes place onHorse Guards Parade (there are also some instances where it takes place atBuckingham Palace orWindsor Castle) with a guard of honour being provided by members of theKing's Guard. The guard of honour will always report to the dignitary in the language of the visitor, with the report being along the lines of the following:
Depending on the area where the ceremony takes place, a march past will immediately take place following the inspection. The foreign guest and the King then travel to Buckingham Palace in a carriage procession escorted by a large number of mounted soldiers from the Household Cavalry. The welcome ceremony is accompanied by 21-gun salutes fired fromGreen Park and theTower of London. Around 150 guests are invited to Buckingham Palace for the state banquet in the evening in the ballroom.[64][65]
State visits do not formally occur between the United Kingdom and the 14 otherCommonwealth realms, as the realms all share a common monarch and head of state. A visit conducted by the monarch to another Commonwealth realm is also not considered a state visit, but is termed aroyal tour. Tours of Commonwealth realms by the monarch are conducted in their capacity as the monarch of that respective realm, and not as the British monarch. As a result, visits on behalf of the United Kingdom to other Commonwealth realms are typically conducted as official visits by theprime minister of the United Kingdom. Conversely, official visits to the United Kingdom by another Commonwealth realm is typically performed by their respective prime minister or governor-general.
State visits toWashington, D.C., occur only on the invitation of the president of the United States in their position as head of state and head of thefederal government of the United States. Official visits refer to a visit by a head of government to Washington. During state visits, there are usually many events taking place in the capital, with the participation of hundreds of individuals. The first state visit took place in 1874 byKalākaua of theKingdom of Hawaii, followed byPedro II of Brazil in 1876.
Events can range from a flight line ceremony atJoint Base Andrews, an arrival ceremony (either at theWhite House orThe Pentagon depending on the guest), aState Department luncheon, a state dinner and an address to theCongress.
Media related toState visits at Wikimedia Commons
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