A diplomatic row erupted on social media tonight following King Charles III’s speech at a State Banquet hosted for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu at Windsor Castle.
While the monarch used his address to celebrate the bilateral relationship and Nigeria’s religious diversity, the remarks sparked a wave of criticism from observers on X who accused the King of ignoring the systemic persecution of Christians in the West African nation.
The banquet, marking the first Nigerian state visit to the United Kingdom in four decades, saw King Charles praise the timing of the visit during the holy month of Ramadan.
Addressing President Tinubu directly, the King stated: “We are most grateful to you for travelling during this holy month, which, I acknowledge, is no small sacrifice, and so it is my particular pleasure to wish you, Mr President, peace, blessings, and an abundance of joy. Ramadan Mubarak!”
The King also looked ahead to the conclusion of the fast, wishing “the millions of Muslims in our countries, Eid Mubarak.”
However, these expressions of interfaith solidarity were met with immediate backlash online.
Critics pointed to reports from human rights organisations alleging that thousands of Christians are murdered annually in Nigeria due to their faith.
One post on X questioned whether the King, as the Head of the Church of England, was “aware that hundreds of Christians are regularly slaughtered in Nigeria,” while another labelled the omission of these killings during the high-profile event as “shameful.”
King Charles’s speech sparked backlash on social media
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The King’s speech emphasised a vision of religious harmony, citing a meeting held earlier in the day with both Christian and Muslim leaders.
He described the gathering as a “meaningful symbol of what Nigeria has long shown: that people of different faiths can, do, and must live alongside one another, in peace, in harmony and in shared purpose.”
He further noted that the UK is assisting Nigeria by “strengthening Quick Reaction Forces” and providing aid in Northern Nigeria where “challenges disturb the age-old balance between these communities.”
Despite these mentions of security assistance, social media users remained critical of the tone of the event.
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Several posts accused the British Government and the monarchy of maintaining silence on “the torture and murder of Christians” to avoid spoiling “photo opportunities” or “unpleasant matters” during the state occasion.
One user dismissed the diplomatic rhetoric as “jollof banter,” arguing that there were far more “pressing matters” to discuss than culinary or cultural ties.
However, some users defended the monarch’s approach as a necessary component of international relations.
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One supporter noted that President Tinubu is a practising Muslim and represents a country with a massive Muslim population, making the King’s greetings a matter of “polite” diplomacy rather than a religious preference.
They argued that “the whole point of state visits is to bring two countries together by diplomatic means.”
The banquet concluded without a direct public mention of the specific casualty figures or the “genocide” allegations raised by activists.