On October 24, 2025, the historic grounds of Windsor Castle played host to a momentous diplomatic encounter, as King Charles welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a ceremonial flourish rarely seen in the United Kingdom. The occasion, marked by a Guard of Honour from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards and the stirring notes of the Ukrainian national anthem, was more than a display of royal pageantry—it was a powerful symbol of solidarity as Ukraine faces renewed Russian aggression.
This was Zelenskyy’s third audience with King Charles at a royal residence, but, as reported by HELLO!, the first time he received such a ceremonial welcome. The King, arms raised in greeting, shook hands with the Ukrainian leader before standing side by side as the anthem played. Dressed in a black jacket and trousers, Zelenskyy placed a hand over his heart, visibly moved by the gesture. Major Ben Tracey, captain of the Guard of Honour, then invited the President to inspect the ranks, with the King following closely behind. Their warm camaraderie was evident as the monarch put an arm around his guest and led him into the castle through the Sovereign’s Entrance, pausing to greet senior military officials.
According to ABC News, the meeting unfolded against a backdrop of escalating violence in Ukraine. Russian forces had stepped up attacks on major Ukrainian cities, and the Russian defense ministry claimed new advances in eastern Ukraine, including the capture of Bolohivka in Kharkiv, Promin in Donetsk, and Zlagoda in Dnipropetrovsk. The timing of the royal welcome was thus deeply significant—a visible show of support from the British monarchy as Ukraine’s struggle enters a critical phase.
Emily Nash, Royal Editor for HELLO!, described the encounter as “another significant show of support by the King for the Ukrainian President, as he prepares to ask European leaders to provide him with more funding and weaponry to help defend his country.” The King’s openness and warmth have been a consistent theme since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. In a statement marking two years since the conflict began, Charles wrote, “The determination and strength of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire, as the unprovoked attack on their land, their lives, and livelihoods enters a third, tragic, year. Despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely.”
The royal audience was not the sole focus of Zelenskyy’s visit. The President’s itinerary included a high-stakes political summit with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street, followed by a meeting with European leaders in the so-called “Coalition of the Willing.” As reported by The Guardian, these talks aimed to secure increased military support and funding for Ukraine’s defense, a plea growing ever more urgent as Russian attacks intensify. Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told LBC, “We want to try and take Russian oil and gas off the global market. We want also to finish the job on the frozen Russian sovereign assets, essentially so we can use them to unlock billions of pounds to fund Ukraine’s defences and, thirdly, supplying long-range capabilities.”
Yet, the path to such support is far from straightforward. Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever, whose country holds much of the frozen Russian assets in question, voiced caution: “Can this (plan) be legal? That is a very good question … There are no clear answers. We will in any case be buried in litigation. That seems like a certainty.” EU leaders, after lengthy debate, failed to reach consensus on using the assets, kicking the issue to their next summit in December.
Meanwhile, Russia’s response to mounting Western pressure has been predictably defiant. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented, “At the moment, we are analysing the sanctions that have been defined and announced, and, of course, we will do what best suits our interests. That’s the main thing in our actions. We are acting primarily not against someone else, we are acting for our own benefit. That’s what we will be doing.” Russian President Vladimir Putin echoed this sentiment, describing new U.S. sanctions as “an unfriendly act that does nothing to strengthen Russian-American relations” and insisting, “No self-respecting country ever does anything under pressure.”
Against this tense geopolitical backdrop, King Charles’s support for Ukraine has stood out. Earlier this year, he released a statement highlighting the “true valour” of Ukrainians and the crucial role of the United Kingdom and its allies in providing aid. “I have felt this personally in the many meetings I have had with Ukrainians since the start of the war, from President Zelensky and Mrs Zelenska, to new army recruits training here in the United Kingdom. I continue to be greatly encouraged that the United Kingdom and our allies remain at the forefront of international efforts to support Ukraine at this time of such great suffering and need. My heart goes out to all those affected, as I remember them in my thoughts and prayers.”
The King’s diplomatic efforts have extended beyond the Ukrainian crisis. Just days before Zelenskyy’s visit, Charles and Queen Camilla returned from a historic state visit to the Vatican City. There, the King became the first British monarch since the Reformation to pray alongside the Pope, marking the 2025 Papal Jubilee and underscoring the warm ecumenical ties between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church. According to HELLO!, the royal couple’s Vatican visit was confirmed on September 27, 2025, and included meetings with climate organizations and private sector leaders involved in the monarch’s Sustainable Markets Initiative.
Back in Windsor, the ceremonial welcome for Zelenskyy was more than a diplomatic courtesy—it was a signal to both allies and adversaries. As Russian drones struck a Moscow suburb and Ukrainian drone attacks injured civilians, the need for international unity and resolve was palpable. Zelenskyy’s presence in London, his meetings with King Charles and Prime Minister Starmer, and the urgent calls for more support from European leaders all pointed to a decisive moment in the conflict.
As the day’s events drew to a close, the symbolism of the royal welcome lingered. For Ukraine, embattled and battered but unbowed, the sight of its president honored in Windsor’s ancient quadrangle was a powerful reminder that its struggle is not faced alone. For King Charles, the embrace of a wartime leader was a continuation of his commitment to moral leadership on the world stage, even as the shadows of war lengthen across Europe.
