King Charles Hosts Zelensky for Lunch at Windsor Castle Ahead of NATO Summit

Britain’s King Charles III welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Windsor Castle on Monday, hosting him for a private audience and lunch at the royal residence west of London.

Zelensky, dressed in a black blazer and trousers instead of his usual military attire, was seen smiling and chatting with the monarch as they walked through the Grand Corridor of the historic castle.

The meeting comes as the Ukrainian leader visits the UK for talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer ahead of a NATO summit scheduled to begin Tuesday in The Hague. Their discussions are expected to focus on strengthening Ukraine’s defences and increasing pressure on Russia.

This marks another in a series of meetings between King Charles and President Zelensky, following their last encounter in March at Sandringham in Norfolk.

Zelensky’s visit follows a deadly overnight barrage by Russia, which launched 352 drones and 16 missiles on Ukraine, killing at least 10 civilians — including seven in Kyiv. He accused Russia of using North Korean missiles and labelled Russia, North Korea, and Iran as a “coalition of murderers.”

Though invited to the NATO summit, Zelensky is not expected to participate in its main sessions, and his attendance remains uncertain.

A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed the president’s visit, saying, “President Zelensky is visiting the UK today, ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague. You can expect the Prime Minister to host him in Downing Street this afternoon and reiterate our steadfast support for Ukraine.”