VICE-PRESIDENT Jagdeep Dhankhar interacted with King Charles III at a reception soon after his arrival here on Friday to attend the majestic Coronation ceremony of the UK’s monarch at Westminster Abbey on Saturday. Dhankhar, accompanied by his wife Dr Sudesh Dhankhar, will join an estimated 100 Heads of State and Government from around the world invited to the historic crowning of Britain’s new monarch. “Hon’ble Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar & Dr Sudesh Dhankhar arrived to a warm welcome in London to attend the Coronation Ceremony of H M King Charles III,” the Vice President’s Office tweeted. “Hon’ble Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar interacted with King Charles III during reception hosted by him for Commonwealth leaders at Marlborough House, London,” it said in another tweet.

“VP Jagdeep Dhankhar @VPIndia joined leaders of the Commonwealth countries at a special event hosted by H M King Charles III at the Marlborough House, London. Exchanged views with Commonwealth leaders on making the institution of the Commonwealth stronger and more focused,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. Soon after his arrival, the Vice-President joined other Commonwealth leaders for discussions hosted by Commonwealth General Secretary Baroness Patricia Scotland at Marlborough House in London. This was the first opportunity for Dhankhar to meet the 74-year-old monarch ahead of the ceremony at the Abbey.

He is also invited to Buckingham Palace for a reception hosted by King Charles for the Heads of State, world leaders and other official guests on Friday evening. “India and UK have a historic relationship and share values of democracy, rule of law and many complementarities and convergences.