Ghanaian Asantehene – or King – Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has long enjoyed close ties with the UK, including a warm friendship with King Charles. So when he celebrated his silver jubilee in London, he was joined by a host of stars from the worlds of stage, screen and politics with connections to Ghana.
The traditional leader marked the occasion by hosting a glittering gala dinner followed by a cultural festival that showcased the pomp and pageantry of his Ashanti kingdom.
Guests at the celebrations included presenter June Sarpong, comedian and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Eddie Kadi, Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Casualty actor Hugh Quarshie, Channel 5 newsreader Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije and Kanya King, founder of the Mobo Awards.
While King Charles, who is in Scotland for his summer holiday, was not among the guests, he had marked the jubilee days earlier by hosting his old friend at Sandringham House in Norfolk, after sending him a private message in April at the start of the festivities. The King and Queen’s director of community engagement, Eva Omaghomi, was at the dinner, along with Yvonne Abba-Opoku, director of the King Charles III Charitable Fund.
King Charles hosts an audience with his Ashanti counterpart at
Sandringham this month. The monarchs’ friendship spans decades
PHOTOS: SAMA KAI/DAVE BENETT/GETTY IMAGES. SARPONG PHOTOGRAPHY. PA IMAGES