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If you’ve been following the last several U.K. state visits, you’ll know that the royals always host a glitzy evening banquet for their guests.

In July 2025, King Charles welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, with a state dinner. Two months later, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended a state banquet. In December, a dinner was held for German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Budenbender. And in March 2026, the royals welcomed Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady of Nigeria Oluremi Tinubu with an evening reception.

Many have noticed and wondered why at each dinner party, the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) is always seated next to the president. That, of course, isn’t by accident.

Here’s the reason for it, plus an expert weighs in on whether the Nigerian state banquet was an “overwhelming success.”

Grant Harrold was King Charles’ butler for seven years. During his time working for the now-monarch, Harrold’s duties included those of valet, housekeeper, house manager, and driver. He also looked after Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate whenever they stayed at Highgrove House. Since leaving the royal household, he’s become one of the U.K.’s leading etiquette experts, a best-selling author, and a royal commentator.

The former royal employee said that all visits and banquets are coordinated months in advance and that everything from the meal being served to the outfits the hosts wear to the seating charts are planned strategically.

Speaking on behalf of Casino Hawks, Harrold told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “During the banquet, the seating is very carefully thought out — it’s not just thrown together. Kate was sitting next to the Nigerian president because she’s the second most senior female within the royal household, and then it goes down the ranks in seniority. That’s all planned out carefully.”

Darren Stanton is a body language and behavioral expert with a degree in psychology. He previously worked as a police officer and used his expertise to uncover the truth when interviewing hundreds of suspects. He later moved into media and TV as a consultant and has been dubbed the “Human Lie Detector.”

Speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, Stanton told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “Kate and William, in particular, seem to have built a strong rapport — it’s coming through clearly in how they’re engaging and how they are being engaged with. There’s a natural ease there, especially with the Nigerian president’s wife. She looks genuinely elated to be part of the state banquet and the visit overall, and that’s reflected in her expressions, relaxed posture, and openness.

“You can see it in the non-verbal cues from the royals — the posture is upright but relaxed, there’s consistent eye contact, and plenty of warm facial expressions. The Nigerian delegation appears comfortable and at ease, which is often a good indicator of genuine connection. Nothing looks forced; it all feels quite natural. So overall, from a body language perspective, it’s been overwhelmingly successful. The signals on both sides point to mutual respect, ease, and genuine rapport, which suggests the visit has been really positive in terms of relationship-building.”

Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.

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