King Charles and Queen Camilla land in Kenya without ceremony ahead of four-day trip to highlight ‘warm relations’ with the country

The king has arrived in Kenya on his first state visit to a Commonwealth country since becoming sovereign.

He landed in Nairobi at 7pm UK time (10pm local), accompanied by his wife, Queen Camilla.

There was no ceremonial welcome as it will take place formally in the capital tomorrow.

Instead, the couple left the plane without fuss or fuss, in what is being classified as an “administrative arrival.”

Royal aides said the plane flew from Britain at the king’s request using 40 percent sustainable air fuel.

Their four-day trip on behalf of the UK government – ​​lasting from October 31 to November 3 – is designed to ‘look ahead’ and highlight the warm working relationship with Kenya.

It also marks the 60th anniversary of the country gaining independence from Britain in 1963, while Queen Elizabeth was on the throne.

But the monarch does intend to tackle the ‘painful’ legacy of colonialism head-on.

During the visit, His Majesty will “take time to deepen his understanding of the injustices suffered by the Kenyan people during this period,” his Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Chris Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald said the king would also acknowledge “the more painful aspects of Britain and Kenya’s shared history”, including the 1952 “emergency” and the brutal suppression of the Mau Mau uprising.

The British presence in Kenya dates back to 1895, when white settlers were given vast tracts of rich agricultural land. In 1920 it became a full colony.

Furious at the loss of their ancestral lands and angered by the lack of indigenous political rights, the Mau Mau began an aggressive rebellion against the British in 1952.

It lasted until 1960 and is now regarded in Kenya as one of the most important steps in the country’s liberation from British rule.

Officially, 11,000 Kenyans were murdered during this period.

But the Kenyan Human Rights Commission estimates that a total of more than 90,000 Mau Mau people were executed, tortured or mutilated during the crackdown, while another 160,000 people were detained in camps where they were subjected to severe torture, assault, malnutrition and abuse.

In 2013, the British government made a historic statement expressing ‘sincere regret’ for the abuses committed during the emergency and paid £19.9 million in compensation to around 5,200 Kenyan claimants.

However, Britain has always maintained that modern governments are not legally responsible for the actions of the colonial administration in Kenya, and therefore there has been no full apology.

It is believed that the king will become the first member of the royal family to publicly acknowledge the British ‘mea culpa’, but he will also not say ‘sorry’ based on the government’s position.

However, he plans to address the issue with “diplomacy and humility” when he toasts a dazzling state banquet in Nairobi tomorrow, to be hosted in his honor by President Ruto and the First Lady.

President Ruto, who has invited the British monarch for a visit, is said to be personally keen that the royal visit looks to the future – and to the two countries’ strong relationship in areas as diverse as trade, culture and military – rather than to the sometimes uncomfortable situation. past.

However, the king, who has proven to be an increasingly adept statesman through previous trips to France and Germany and through his handling of the current crisis in the Middle East, is determined not to shy away from the issue.

And it is believed that the State Banquet, where his first major public speech of the trip will take place, will be the perfect opportunity to do this.

A royal source told the Mail that the king personally believed it was “right” that people wanted to be heard and recognized at “the highest level”.

They said: ‘The way His Majesty will tackle the subject will be with the great diplomacy, humanity and humility he brings to all difficult subjects, just as he did during state visits to France and Germany, with whom Britain’s relations have been under pressure several times. reasons.

‘He has a wonderful way with language and a deep personal commitment to all communities that can help heal historical wounds with warmth, understanding and utmost sensitivity.

‘It’s often about listening instead of talking. In many cases, people simply want to be heard – and they want their past mistakes to be acknowledged at the highest levels. And it’s true that they are.

“While it is the wish of the Kenyan government that the focus of this visit will be very much on celebrating the present and building the future, a symbolic acknowledgment of the past is an important step in renewing existing friendships and sharing future ambitions for our two great nations. ‘.

Charles will also raise the issue during other engagements, which cannot be disclosed in advance for security reasons.

However, since independence, Britain and Kenya have enjoyed a warm relationship, and it is hoped the state visit will further this.

Kenya is also where Queen Elizabeth II’s reign began, after she learned of the death of her father, King George VI, while visiting the Treetops Hotel with Prince Philip in February 1952.

The King and Queen will visit both Nairobi and Mombasa and visit projects and charities close to their hearts.

In addition to His Majesty holding bilateral talks with the President, Queen Camilla has also been invited for a one-on-one meeting with the wife of the head of state.

Trade, climate change, youth opportunities and employment, sustainable development and military ties will all be highlighted during their engagements.

The King and Queen will also visit Nairobi National Park to witness the crucial conservation work carried out by the Kenya Wildlife Service, which is an integral part of Kenya’s tourism industry.

Charles will meet religious leaders from Mombasa’s diverse community, while Camilla will meet survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

Last week, at a reception at Buckingham Palace for the Kenyan diaspora in Britain, guests were clearly enthusiastic and optimistic about the journey ahead.

Barking and Dagenham councilor Elizabeth Kangethe, who came to Britain 20 years ago and was named after Queen Elizabeth, told the Mail: ‘We have changed as countries since independence. Things happened that shouldn’t have happened, but life has moved on and we’re happy to be moving forward together. There is a lot of affection between the two countries. I am very proud of the way His Majesty is embracing Kenya. He will receive a very warm welcome. ‘