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State visits to the UK

This short briefing looks at “inbound” state visits: what they are, who decides who is invited, who pays the costs, controversies over previous state visits, the format of a state visit, and related addresses to Parliament.

Inbound state visits are official visits by heads of state to the UK, as guests of the King. While the King formally invites and hosts the visiting heads of state, it is the UK Government who chooses whom to invite.

Since the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the heads of state of France have been invited on the most state visits, with six visits during that period.

The costs of hosting the head of state and their visiting delegation during the state visit, including accommodation, transport and food, are paid for by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The government will also provide extra funds to police forces when there are significant extra security costs (most commonly during the visits of US Presidents).

A state visit usually starts with an official reception hosted by the King, and includes an inspection of a Guard of Honour, a carriage procession and a state banquet.

Not all heads of state are invited to address Parliament, though this element has become more common in recent decades. The Speakers of the House of Commons and the House of Lords have a role in choosing whom to invite.

The spreadsheet published alongside this briefing details all the inbound state visits to the UK since the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, and includes whether the head of state was invited to address Parliament.