King Charles greets his Ghanaian counterpart The Ashanti King — who shelters under a parasol in Buckingham Palace
KING Charles greets his Ghanaian counterpart — who shelters from the “reign” under a huge parasol in Buckingham Palace.
The Ashanti King, 72-year-old Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, had the multi-coloured sunblocker held over his head to denote his position.
He and Charles were pictured laughing together during their meeting.
Other dignitaries who met Charles yesterday included spokesman for the Sacred Headwaters of the Amazon Uyunkar Domingo Peas — who appeared to break protocol by giving Charles a big hug.
He gave the King a necklace made from seeds to symbolise an alliance between the monarch and indigenous people, and a head-dress of rainforest feathers.
Charles, 74, looked delighted as he was told by the Amazon chief that he was being honoured for his decades of environmental work and championing of green campaigns, including fighting deforestation.
The King also held an audience with Canada’s National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations RoseAnne Archibald.
They were among 100 heads of state who will be in London for the King and Queen Consort’s Coronation tomorrow.
Following the meetings, Charles and Camilla, 75, were believed to be having private time at Clarence House last night.
And he is said to be “relaxed and very gracious” despite the huge burden ahead of him, according to the Dean of Westminster. The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle said rehearsals for the Coronation had gone well and Charles was not at all anxious about the momentous occasion.
Elsewhere, Princess Anne met the first black soldier to reach the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major yesterday.
Kirtland Gill, 43, a Jamaican-born fisherman’s son, made history for the Coldstream Guards when he was appointed to the highest rank an enlisted soldier can hold.
His career was almost derailed after he was accused, but later cleared in court, of stealing Army ammunition in 2021.
Gill, a former instructor at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where Army officers are trained, fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Princess Anne met soldiers after their midnight rehearsals in London this week.
Meanwhile, four London landmarks have been added to the list of buildings that will light up across the nation tomorrow to mark the Coronation.
Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Guildhall and Mansion House will be illuminated in red, white and blue from 8pm until midnight tomorrow and Sunday.
Other landmarks to be lit up include Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, and the Shard.
RAF FLYPAST MAY BE 'MIST'
THE King’s Coronation flypast could be scaled back or cancelled altogether because of low clouds.
The RAF has been forced to draw up contingency plans after forecasters warned conditions for the spectacle are “touch and go”.
For the full flypast of some 70 aircraft, the pilots need a cloud base of at least 1,600ft or higher and visibility of 5km.
An RAF source said: “However good we are, we can’t control the weather. We may have to cancel.”
A scaled-back flypast would involve around half the aircraft, including the Red Arrows, helicopters and a Lancaster bomber.