Day: September 27, 2025

A State visit is a formal visit by the head of state (or their representative) of a sovereign country to another sovereign country. State visits are primarily characterised by an emphasis on official public ceremonies.

Visiting heads of state are welcomed by the monarch (or, when he or she is not present, his or her Lord-in-Waiting). The host monarch and/or government act as official hosts. The visit can also include a parliamentary element, with the visiting head of state or prime minister being invited to speak in both Houses of Parliament if desired.

As part of the visit, the visitor is usually greeted with an arrival ceremony at the Palace. This may include an inspection of the guard of honour, followed by a welcome from the monarch and the visiting head of state or prime minister.

After a tour of the Palace, the visitor is hosted at a State banquet. This is a formal occasion, with around 150 guests invited on the basis of their cultural or diplomatic links with the country being visited.

Depending on the programme of the visit, other ceremonial events might occur, such as the rekindling of an Eternal Flame at Yad Vashem (a typical component of a visit by the emperor and empress of Japan) or a wreath-laying ceremony at a memorial to those who lost their lives in wars fought between the two countries. Sometimes, the Royal Collection arranges an exhibition of themed items for visitors to view – such as when the King and Queen hosted the emperor and empress and the amir sheikh and sheikha of Qatar in 2024.

Invasion refers to a large-scale military operation in which the armed forces of one geopolitical entity enter another territory with the intent of conquest or occupation. This can occur within the framework of a war or as an independent conflict. Invasions typically result in the reshaping of the culture and political landscape of the invaded nation.

Invasions may be carried out by land, sea, or air, with each method having arguments both in favour of and against it. Invasion by air usually entails the use of aircraft to transport troops into the target country, or it may involve the dropping of troops from an aircraft. In the past, invasions by sea or land were often accompanied by other forms of attack on the target in order to “soften up” the country and deprive it of resources; such preparations have been referred to as an act of preemption.

Land-based invasions have been used since the invention of warfare, often involving a straightforward crossing of borders or other demarcated zones. Invasion by land can be complicated by the existence of defensive emplacements and structures, which can prove difficult to overcome. Communication between the invaders and defenders has historically been crucial, and the development of voice or morse code communication has allowed even small units of skirmishers to relay defensive positions to their commanders.

Arguments in favour of an invasion by sea usually include the ability to perform a surprise attack from sea, or that the defences of the target nation are insufficient to repel such an attack. The logistical problems associated with this form of invasion, however, have made it a rare form of invasion.