King Charles hosts Ukrainian president at Windsor ahead of crucial meeting

King Charles opened the doors of Windsor Castle for a special guest.

On Monday, June 23, the 76-year-old monarch welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Windsor Castle. Buckingham Palace confirmed that the pair met for a private audience followed by a luncheon at the royal residence.

Photos released from the visit show the King, 76, and Zelenskyy, 47, walking through Windsor together, shaking hands and deep in conversation.

The meeting came in the immediate aftermath of what The New York Times called “a major Russian drone and missile attack” on Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv. 

Zelenskyy's visit to the UK is reportedly part of a larger diplomatic push for increased military aid. His trip comes ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague and includes planned talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss defence strategy. 

While the royal family traditionally remains politically neutral, King Charles and other senior royals have consistently shown solidarity with Ukraine over the years.

This marks at least the fourth meeting between the monarch and Zelenskyy, with previous encounters at Sandringham, Buckingham Palace, and the 2024 European Political Community summit in Oxfordshire.

Prince William has also made gestures of support. In March, he visited British troops stationed in Estonia as part of NATO’s Operation Cabrit, which plays a key role in defending Europe’s eastern front.