Vice President Dhankhar Meets King Charles, Reaffirms Commitment To Strengthen Strategic Partnership

King Charles Coronation: Dhankhar interacted with King Charles during the reception hosted by him for Commonwealth leaders at Marlborough House, London.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar with King Charles III

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar met King Charles III in London ahead of the monarch's Coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Saturday. Dhankhar interacted with King Charles during the reception hosted by him for Commonwealth leaders at Marlborough House, London.

This was the first time that Dhankhar met the 74-year-old monarch. During the meeting, Dhankhar reaffirmed commitment to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the MEA said. 

"Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar met with King Charles III and conveyed greetings on the occasion of his Coronation. The Vice President reaffirmed commitment to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

Dhankhar, accompanied by his wife Dr Sudesh Dhankhar, will join an estimated 100 Heads of State and governments from around the world at the Coronation ceremony.

The coronation service of King Charles and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey will be attended by a congregation of more than 2,200 people.

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Dhankhar is also slated to interact with members of the Indian diaspora at a community reception organised by the Indian High Commission in London.

"India and UK have a historic relationship and share values of democracy, rule of law and many complementarities and convergences. The relationship was elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021 with the adoption of Roadmap 2030 for Future Relations," the MEA earlier tweeted with reference to the two-day Vice-Presidential visit to the UK.

Last year, President Droupadi Murmu had visited the UK in September to attend the State Funeral of late Queen Elizabeth II and offer condolences on behalf of India.

The ceremony was last witnessed 70 years ago when Charles' late mother was crowned Queen Elizbeth II in June 1953.

A number of Indian-origin professionals have also been invited to the coronation ceremony. British Indian chef Manju Malhi has been invited among 450 British Empire Medal (BEM) winners for her work with an old age charity.

Also invited is Sourabh Phadke, a graduate of the Prince's Foundation’s Building Craft Programme and the Prince's Foundation School of Traditional Arts, PTI reported.