King Charles III welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to his Sandringham estate in Norfolk on Sunday, following the Ukrainian leader’s attendance at a high-level defence summit in London.
The meeting, which lasted just under an hour, was a significant moment in the ongoing diplomatic efforts to support Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.
A warm welcome at Sandringham
President Zelensky arrived at Sandringham via military helicopter, which was seen flying low over the estate at around 5:25pm. Local residents, some waving Ukrainian flags, gathered outside in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the historic meeting.
Upon arrival, a motorcade escorted Mr Zelensky through the grounds of the royal estate to Sandringham House, where King Charles greeted him warmly on the doorstep. The two leaders exchanged an embrace and shook hands before posing for photographs.
Inside Sandringham House, the meeting continued in the Saloon room, where they shared tea and engaged in what is believed to have been a private and candid discussion about the war in Ukraine and international support efforts.
A symbolic show of support
The meeting underscored the UK’s continued commitment to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. While the details of their conversation remain undisclosed, the symbolic nature of the audience sent a clear message of solidarity.
Following the visit, President Zelensky took to social media platform X, expressing his gratitude to the King:
“I am grateful to His Majesty King Charles III for the audience.”
He also included images of the Ukrainian and British flags, reflecting the deepening ties between the two nations.
Past meetings and growing diplomatic ties
This was not the first meeting between King Charles and President Zelensky. The pair first met in February 2023 during Mr Zelensky’s surprise visit to the UK, where he had an historic audience with the King at Buckingham Palace. They later reunited in July 2024 during the European Political Community summit in Oxfordshire, where they held private discussions.
Sunday’s meeting took place against the backdrop of significant geopolitical tensions, including a highly publicised confrontation between President Zelensky and former US President Donald Trump, along with his vice president JD Vance, at the White House on Friday. The clash reportedly centred around American support for Ukraine, which has become a contentious issue in US politics.
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A weekend of diplomatic engagements
King Charles has been highly engaged in diplomatic affairs in recent days. Just a day before hosting Mr Zelensky, the monarch extended an invitation to Donald Trump for what would be an unprecedented second state visit to the UK. The move raised eyebrows given the former US president’s shifting stance on Ukraine and NATO.
As the UK remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine, the latest meeting between King Charles and President Zelensky further cements Britain’s role as one of Ukraine’s closest allies.
After departing Sandringham, President Zelensky’s helicopter took off at around 6:35pm, before he later flew out of the UK from Stansted Airport that night.
While the war in Ukraine rages on, the visit to Sandringham serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of UK-Ukrainian relations and the commitment to supporting Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty and democracy.
