The Queen, Prince Philip, Others Officially Welcome Chinese President on a State Visit

A Horse Guard Parade has been organized by the Queen to officially welcome the Chinese president Xi Jinping to London to mark the start of his state visit to the UK.

Mr Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were met at the Horse Guards Parade by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, who introduced the visitors to a host of dignitaries including David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May.

The party then travelled in a ceremonial carriage up the Mall, which was lined by pro-Beijing supporters as well as rival groups from amnesty international, before arriving at Buckingham palace. According to Dailymail online, a state banquet will be held in Mr Xi's honor at the Palace this evening.

The Chinese President is on a four-day visit which aims at cementing economic ties between the two countries.

Afrikupdates gathered that Mr Xi and the Prince of Wales arrived in a chauffeur-driven limousine and behind them in another car was the Duchess of Cornwall and the president's wife Peng Liyuan. 

The Queen introduced the president to leading figures from her Government and national life including Mr Cameron, Home Secretary Theresa May, Alan Yarrow, the Lord Mayor of the City of London and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.

The military top brass was also presented to China's leader general sir Nicholas Houghton, chief of the defence staff, vice admiral sir Philip Jones, the fleet commander, general sir Nicholas Carter, chief of the general staff, air chief , marshal sir Andrew Pulford, chief of the air staff.

The party had made the short trip from the exclusive mandarin oriental hotel in nearby Knightsbridge and as their car arrived on the parade ground the Queen and Philip turned to face them.

The muffled sound of a 41-gun royal salute rang out as the king's troop royal horse artillery in the nearby green park, fired the volleys.

The party then travelled up the Mall, which was lined with pro-Beijing supporters. Earlier today, the Guardian reported that drummers from pro-China groups were expected to gather in nearby St James's Park but that they had been banned from playing any music.

It would be recalled that the last time a Chinese leader visited the UK; the drums were used to overwhelm the noise coming from rival groups. But the warning did not appear to apply to the Mall, where pro-Beijing groups paraded in front of activists from Amnesty International, who was protesting China's human rights record. 

Photo Credits: Daily Mail Online