Kate the karaoke queen! Princess of Wales tells South Korea’s foreign minister her and William will want to go out for a singsong when they get a date in the diary for a future state visit

• King Charles and Camilla are hosting Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee 
• First incoming state visit since King’s coronation and the second of his reign 

Kate Middleton has joked with South Korea’s foreign minister that she wants to set up a karaoke date should she and Prince William visit the country on a state visit in the future.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were heard speaking with Park Jin about a possible visit to the country as dignitaries from the east Asian nation made the first incoming state visit to the UK since the King’s coronation.

While looking at pictures and gifts from Queen Elizabeth’s first visit to South Korea in 1999, the prince said: ‘I’ll put it in the diary’. Kate chipped in: ‘And karaoke!’

Prince William and Kate have played a key role in the state visit by South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee, greeting the President and the First Lady at their London hotel this morning.

Then then travelled with Mr Yoon and Mrs Kim to a Horse Guards Parade ceremonial welcome, where the King and Queen were waiting, before a private lunch.

William and Kate with Choo Kyungho, South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister, second right and Park Jin, the South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs, inside Buckingham Palace today

The Princess of Wales steps out of a car during the state visit events in London today

Kate wears a striking £3,000 Catherine Walker caped red coat for the events in London today

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and Britain’s King Charles III arrive in the ceremonial State Carriage at Buckingham Palace in London this afternoon

(From left) First Lady of South Korea, Kim Keon-hee; President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol; Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron; King Charles III; Home Secretary James Cleverly; Queen Camilla; Prince William and Kate Middleton at Horse Guards Parade in London this afternoon

The South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee later laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior inside Westminster Abbey

Mr Yoon also signed the visitors book at Westminster Abbey. The inscription reads: ‘Your dedication to freedom and justice will be remembered forever’

Following the event, they travelled to Buckingham Palace to view a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection relating to South Korea in the Picture Gallery. 

Charles and Camilla took their place standing on the royal pavilion around midday and briefly greeted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron, Home Secretary James Cleverly and the Defence Chiefs of Staff.

Camilla wore a blue dress and coat by Anna Valentine, hat with loose feathers by Philip Treacy and a sapphire and diamond brooch which belonged to Queen Mary.

Nearby was the Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals, commanded by Major Edward van der Lande. 

Kate wore a striking £3,000 caped red coat by Catherine Walker and a matching hat by Jane Taylor. She also sported a pair of Princess Diana’s sapphire and diamond oval drop earrings, complementing the look with a pair of Gianvito Rossi red shoes.

A guard of honour, formed by F Company Scots Guards, gave a royal salute amid traditional pomp and pageantry – and the King and Mr Yoon inspected the troops.

Members of the Scots Guards were recently deployed to South Korea where they were training troops. Mr Yoon walked past the two ranks of Guardsman casting his eye over the servicemen before returning to the royal pavilion with the King.

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at Buckingham Palace in London this afternoon

Prince William and Kate Middleton stand at Horse Guards Parade in London this afternoon

A royal carriage procession returns to Buckingham Palace after today’s ceremonial welcome

Kate wears a red caped coat by Catherine Walker and a matching hat by Jane Taylor today

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee, accompanied by Queen Camilla and King Charles III, view a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection relating to South Korea in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace today

https://youtube.com/watch?v=d69-Syu-5No%3Fautoplay%3D1%26mute%3D1

Charles, Camilla, William and Kate and their guests then travelled in a carriage procession down The Mall to Buckingham Palace.

How Charles and Diana were branded ‘The Glums’ on their 1992 visit to South Korea 

The King visited South Korea in November 1992 when Prince of Wales.

Charles carried out the tour with his then-wife, Diana, Princess of Wales.

Charles and Diana visit Seoul in 1992

However, the pair were branded ‘The Glums’ for looking ill at ease together.

One month later it was announced Charles and Diana were separating.

The King and Queen then arrived at the Grand Entrance to Buckingham Palace with President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee to the sound of the South Korean and British national anthems.

Mr Yoon stepped from the black and gold Irish State Coach first, followed by the King.

In the second carriage – the Australian State Coach – Camilla, in a blue dress and coat by Anna Valentine and hat with loose feathers by Philip Treacy, accompanied Mrs Kim.

A guard of honour from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in their long grey coats and bearskin hats waited in the Palace quadrangle.

William and Kate travelled in the Scottish State Coach with Choo Kyung-ho, South Korea’s deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance.

The royal party and their guests then went inside the Palace for a private lunch. 

Weeks of preparation had gone into the official ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards Parade with more than 1,000 soldiers and 230 horses gathered for the occasion. In all seven military bands and nine military units were involved.

Lines of Foot Guards from F Company Scots Guards and the dazzling Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals stood to attention.

The King and Queen arrived to a Royal Salute as the national anthem was played, with the Royal Standard flown from the Horse Guards Building.

A medley of music was played by the Band of the Scots Guards, smartly dressed in their Atholl grey greatcoats. 

As the official cars containing the President, the First Lady and the Prince and Princess of Wales pulled up outside the pavilion, the King’s Life Guards gave an official salute and the Flagman raised the national flag of Korea.

The VIP visitors were greeted by Their Majesties as the national anthem of Korea was played and a volley of ceremonial salutes could be heard ringing out across the capital.

Major James Drummond Moray matched forwards and presented his Guard of Honour to the Korean President and invited both himself and the King to inspect it.

Prince William and Kate Middleton stand at Horse Guards Parade in London this afternoon

South Korea’s First Lady Kim Keon Hee arrives with Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace today

Prince William and Kate travel by carriage to Buckingham Palace after the welcome today

King Charles III and South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol at the ceremonial welcome today

The President of South Korea rides to Buckingham Palace with King Charles III today

King Charles and Queen Camilla greet official guests at Horse Guards Parade in London today

The Princess of Wales at the ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade in London today

Prince William and Kate post for a photograph with South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee at a hotel in Central London today

Kate arrives with Prince William to meet South Korea’s President at a hotel in London today

The military procession on The Mall during the ceremonial welcome in London this afternoon

At Buckingham Palace a Guard of Honour, found by 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, with the King’s Colour, under the command of Major Andrew Campbell, Welsh Guards, with the Band of the Regiment, took position in the Quadrangle to greet the carriages, as well as a dismounted Detachment of Household Cavalry in the Grand Entrance.

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As the parties arrived the Guard of Honour received Their Majesties, Their Excellencies and Their Royal Highnesses with a Royal Salute, while the band played the Korean and British National Anthems.

There was further military spectacle at Buckingham Palace where the party was greeted by yet another guard of honour before a private lunch.

And there was a ‘bit of a flurry’ during the meal when word reached the dining party that North Korea had launched a rocket to put a spy satellite into orbit – the timing at the height of such a high profile South Korean diplomatic visit surprising no-one.

Fortunately, sources said, it failed to put anyone off their chicken.

Afterwards there was a display of diplomacy from the King and Queen for their visitors, showing off the earliest communication between the two nations.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester then joined Their Majesties to view artefacts from the Royal Collection with President and First Lady Kim Keon Hee in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace. 

The King showed the President the first evidence of diplomatic relations a letter sent from King Gojong to Queen Victoria to mark a treaty of friendship and commerce 1883 – the first time diplomatic relations were officially formalised between the two countries.

The Prince and Princess travel by carriage from Horse Guards to Buckingham Palace today

King Charles III rides in a state carriage to Buckingham Palace following the welcome today

Queen Camilla at the ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade in London today

Prince William and Kate Middleton stand at Horse Guards Parade in London this afternoon

The Prince and Princess travel by carriage from Horse Guards to Buckingham Palace today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla wait for the welcome at Horse Guards Parade today

The President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, are greeted by the Prince of Wales, King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the ceremonial welcome today

Kate Middleton speaks with South Korea’s First Lady Kim Keon Hee in a car in London today 

King Charles III and President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol during the welcome today

The Prince and Princess of Wales at the ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade today

President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol greets Charles at Horse Guards Parade today

King Charles III and South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol at the ceremonial welcome today

The Prince and Princess of Wales at the ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade today

King Charles III and South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol at the ceremonial welcome today

The Princess of Wales attends the ceremonial welcome for South Korea’s President today

Kate and William talk with South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee at a hotel in London today 

The Prince and Princess of Wales leave Buckingham Palace in London this morning

Stella Panayotova, Royal Librarian said: ‘I chose them because these are the earliest items available we have in the collection from the Kate 19th century when diplomatic relations began.’

The President marvelled at a collection of artefacts from Sir Winston Churchill and longingly held a copy ‘The Second World War: The Gathering Storm Volume I’ which the wartime leader had signed and sent to King George VI.

Stella Panayotova explained: ‘The President is incredibly interested in Churchill.’

King Charles also proudly showed off photos of the Gwanghuamun Gate, in Seoul, which as Prince of Wales he helped conserve and restore.

And the visitors – who were led round by translators – also got to see the late Queen’s speech from her 1999 State Visit.

Prince William, who twice shared tender moments with the Princess of Wales when he touched the small of her back as they walked around, was heard taking to Korea’s Foreign Minister Park Jin about a possible visit to South Korea, with the princess joking about setting up a date for karaoke in the diary. 

As they left the picture gallery, the couple walked out with their arms around each other’s backs. 

Mr Yoon later laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey and was to deliver an address in the Royal Gallery at the Palace of Westminster to members of both Houses of Parliament.

In the evening, 170 guests will gather for the banquet, customarily a white tie and tiara affair, in the opulent Palace ballroom.

The King and Queen are expected to be joined by William, Kate and other members of the royal family, while Charles and Mr Yoon will make speeches.

Foreign secretaries are also usually invited, meaning the newly appointed Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton is likely to make a return to dining at the royal residence, harking back to the days when he was prime minister.

Mr Yoon, 62, is a known fan of karaoke and in April belted out a verse of one of his favourite songs, American Pie, at a White House dinner at the request of President Joe Biden during a state visit to the US. He got a standing ovation.

Critics of Mr Yoon, a former prosecutor general, have accused him of suppressing freedom of speech during his 18-month presidency and cracking down on fault-finding news reports about him in the name of fighting ‘fake news’.

Mrs Kim, a 51-year-old former head of an art event-planning company, has also attracted controversy.

She made a televised public apology in 2021 after admitting exaggerating her professional credentials when applying for jobs at universities over a decade ago.

Mr Yoon and Mrs Kim made a low-key arrival at Stansted Airport yesterday.

King Charles III and President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol during the welcome today

King Charles III and President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol during the welcome today

Prince William and Kate Middleton arrive at the hotel in London this morning for the state visit

Prince William and Kate Middleton leave Buckingham Palace in London this morning

King Charles III and Queen Camilla leave Buckingham Palace ahead of the welcome today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are driven from Buckingham Palace this morning

King Charles III and Queen Camilla leave Buckingham Palace in London this morning

Before his trip, Mr Yoon said the world is facing a ‘polycrisis’ of multiple conflicts and threats to humanity.

He told The Daily Telegraph that the wars in Ukraine and Israel, and rising tension with Russia, North Korea and in the South China Sea, have compelled him to seek ‘very close security co-operation’ with the West.

He secured a landmark deal with the US earlier this year to counter the North Korean nuclear threat.

Mr Yoon previously warned fellow world leaders about possible co-operation between North Korea and Russia after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The King and the South Korean President met last year at the reception for heads of state and official overseas guests at the Palace on the eve of the late Queen’s funeral.

Mr Yoon’s opponents accused him of being disrespectful during his trip to London after he missed the chance to view the late Queen’s coffin lying in state – which he blamed on heavy traffic.

Members of the military fire a gun salute from cannons in London’s Green Park this afternoon

The military procession on The Mall during the ceremonial welcome in London this afternoon

The Mounted Household Cavalry gather on The Mall ahead of the ceremonial welcome today

Scenes outside Buckingham Palace in London this morning ahead of the ceremonial welcome

Foot Guards from F Company Scots Guards in formation ahead of the welcome today

Scenes on The Mall ahead of the ceremonial welcome for the President of South Korea today

Military personnel gather ahead of a ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade today

Members of the Mounted Life Guards Cavalry gather on The Mall ahead of the welcome today

Foot Guards from F Company Scots Guards in formation ahead of the welcome today

Scenes on The Mall ahead of the ceremonial welcome for the President of South Korea today

Foot Guards from F Company Scots Guards in formation ahead of the welcome today

He was also caught on microphone swearing after a chat with Mr Biden at the UN general assembly the following week, with the footage going viral in his home country.

Tomorrow, Mr Yoon will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Downing Street and also meet Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

The state visit follows the first incoming one of the King’s reign by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa last autumn.

Meanwhile, as part of Mr Yoon’s visit, the UK and South Korea are to launch talks on a new trade deal and sign a diplomatic accord.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch will begin negotiations with her Korean counterpart Bang Moon Kyu at the UK-Korea Business Forum at Mansion House tomorrow.

They will also announce £21billion of investments committed by Korean businesses in green energy and infrastructure projects across the UK.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and ex-prime minister Lord David Cameron laugh together today

(Left to right) Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary James Cleverly arrive for the ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade today

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak smiles as he waits with other official guests in London today

(Left to right) Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary James Cleverly arrive for the ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade today

Home Secretary James Cleverly arrives for the welcome at Horse Guards Parade today

(Left to right) Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary James Cleverly arrive for the ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade today

Lord David Cameron and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Horse Guards Parade today

The UK secured a free trade deal with South Korea in 2019, with the agreement largely aimed at keeping trade flowing post-Brexit and removing uncertainty.

The UK hopes to secure modern digital provisions in a new deal because most of its services exports to Korea are delivered digitally.

Ms Badenoch said: ‘The Government is upgrading our trade deal with South Korea to ensure that our trading relationship plays to the UK’s strengths as an advanced, high-tech economy.

‘This refreshed, modernised deal will boost our world-leading services sector while also creating new opportunities for UK exports such as in our world-leading food and luxury goods sectors.’

Mr Yoon will hold a meeting with Mr Sunak and sign the new long-term agreement covering defence and technology co-operation in Downing Street tomorrow.

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron, South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister Choo Kyung-ho and South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin pose for photographs after signing a joint Strategic Development Partnership agreement in London today

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron, South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister Choo Kyung-ho and South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin sign a joint Strategic Development Partnership agreement in London today

Foreign Secretary David Cameron (second left) meets Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin (second right) at 1 Carlton Gardens in London today on day one of the state visit to the UK

The Downing Street Accord follows similar agreements with Singapore and Japan, coming as the UK seeks to consolidate influence in the Indo-Pacific.

It will include a defence agreement that will boost the British and Korean militaries’ co-operation on countering smuggling in the East China Sea which North Korea relies on to evade sanctions.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘The UK is leading the way in supporting our Korean friends in countering North Korea’s aggressive posturing and ensuring the safety and security of the Indo-Pacific.

‘Deepening the ties between the Royal Navy and Republic of Korea Navy, our bilateral defence relationship has never been stronger.’

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron said: ‘This agreement – signed 70 years after the Korean War Armistice – is a truly unique step in the strengthening of our work to secure the security of the Korean Peninsula and the region. We are proud, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to be at the forefront of international sanctions enforcement activity.

Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Keon Hee arrive at London Stansted Airport yesterday for their visit

Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Keon Hee step off their plane at London Stansted Airport yesterday

Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Keon Hee arrives at London Stansted Airport in Essex yesterday

‘This incudes upholding international commitments to curtail North Korea’s illegal weapons programmes.’

Downing Street said the accord will also see the countries work closer together on technology such as artificial intelligence, semi-conductors and quantum.

Science ministers will also sign a memorandum of understanding to boost space co-operation.

South Korea will host next year’s AI summit after the first UK-backed gathering in Bletchley Park earlier this month.

The UK visit coincides with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the UK and Korea, as well as the 70th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean war.

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