A state visit is the highest form of bilateral visit – reserved for heads of state (presidents or monarchs) and made at the invitation of the head of state of another country, who acts as their official host throughout their stay. It symbolises strong diplomatic ties and goodwill between countries, and involves many formal public ceremonies.
Visiting heads of state are often accompanied by senior Government ministers and other members of the Royal Family during their stay in the UK. They are welcomed by The King or Queen and other members of the Royal Family in a ceremony on Horse Guards Parade. They inspect a Guard of Honour, and gun salutes are fired from Green Park and the Tower of London. The day usually ends with a State Banquet, at which around 150 guests are invited on the basis of their cultural, diplomatic or economic links with the visiting nation.
In addition to meeting with the King and the Prime Minister, heads of state often hold meetings with other politicians, including members of Parliament and leaders of the main political parties. They may also visit the Royal Collection to view an exhibition curated specifically for their visit, such as one on Spanish-themed objects for The King of Spain’s state visit in 2017.
During state visits, foreign dignitaries are typically given the opportunity to pay tribute to victims of conflict and genocide by visiting memorial sites. In recent years, for example, presidents of France and Germany have visited the Berlin Victory Column and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe during their state visits. In 2016, President Putin of Russia visited the Tsitsernakaberd complex on his state visit to Armenia, and in 2017 he paid his respects at the Holocaust Memorial in central Berlin.