King Charles and Queen Camilla will acknowledge the “painful aspects” of the UK’s shared history with Kenya as they visit the nation to mark 60 years since its independence.
It will be the King and Queen’s first state visit to a Commonwealth country. And the five-day state visit will see them joining the east African country as it prepares to celebrate idependence.
Kenya and the UK continued to maintain a close relationship after it became independent on December 12, 1963. That is despite the violent colonial legacy of the Mau Mau uprising which led to a period known as the Emergency.
The King and Queen’s welcome to Kenya later on Monday will be an administrative arrival with the formal ceremonial greeting in the capital Nairobi coming later in the week. During the visit they will see the Nairobi National Park to learn about the conversation work of the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Chris Fitzgerald, deputy private secretary to the King, said when the visit was first announced a few weeks ago: “During the visit, their majesties will meet President Ruto and the first lady as well as other members of the Kenyan government, UN staff, CEOs, faith leaders, young people, future leaders and Kenyan marines training with UK Royal Marines.”
The King and Queen will watch Kenyan marines, trained by the Royal Marines, stage a mock covert beach landing when they visit Mtongwe naval base in Mombasa. The King’s deputy private secretary also said: “The King and Queen’s programme will celebrate the close links between the British and Kenyan people in areas such as the creative arts, technology, enterprise, education and innovation.
“The visit will also acknowledge the more painful aspects of the UK and Kenya’s shared history, including the Emergency (1952-1960). His Majesty will take time during the visit to deepen his understanding of the wrongs suffered in this period by the people of Kenya.”
Kenya has a unique association with the British royal family as it is the country where Queen Elizabeth II was told of the death of her father, King George VI, and acceded to the throne.
The then princess was making an official visit with the Duke of Edinburgh to Kenya, and was staying at the Treetops hotel, a lodge deep in the Aberdare National Park, when the King died on February 6 1952.
