State banquet
Official banquet hosted by a head of state for diplomatic celebration.
A state banquet is an official meal hosted by a head of state at their official residence, typically for another head of state or head of government during a state visit or diplomatic conference. It serves to celebrate diplomatic ties between the host and guest countries and may be called a state dinner or state lunch depending on the time of day. In the Western world, such events traditionally involve formal wear, military honor guards, a multi-course meal, musical entertainment, speeches, and toasts.
History
Centuries ago, encounters between reigning monarchs were rare due to travel difficulties and security concerns; when they occurred at suitable venues, they were marked by lavish feasts. The Banquet of the Five Kings in London in 1363 brought together the kings of England, Scotland, France, Denmark, and Cyprus. At court dinners, the number of diners was often large, but the most important sat at a separate table, frequently raised on a dais, and likely ate different food. Many state banquets celebrated royal weddings involving foreign princesses, serving as major diplomatic events, while coronation feasts were especially lavish. During the Renaissance, Italy set European style, but under the Baroque era the French court of Louis XIV became the standard. In the Ancien Régime, state banquets featured very few actual diners, often all royal, surrounded by a large crowd of courtiers who watched in silence, sometimes addressed from the table. Bystanders were usually male, with ladies watching from galleries. A single U-shaped table was common, with diners seated on the outside facing inward. Such public meals, theatrical demonstrations of rank and power, largely disappeared at the French Revolution but reappeared under Napoleon with equal formality.
By country
In India, state banquets for foreign heads of state and government are held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, hosted by the President of India. Over one hundred guests typically attend, including the Vice-President, the Prime Minister, prominent government members, and Indian and foreign business leaders. The foreign head of state is greeted by the president in the North Drawing Room. The outdoor setting is a tent in the Mughal Garden, while the State Dining Room serves as the main indoor venue. The gardens are lit with earthen diyas and string lights, decorated with flowers and rangoli, and become a scene for entertainment. Performances include Rajasthani singers, Indian percussion instruments such as the mridangam, tabla, ghatam, and khanjeera, and classical dances like Bharatnatyam, Odissi, and Kathak. Inside the tent, the president and the foreign head of state deliver speeches on bilateral relations, followed by a meal of Indian delicacies accompanied by the Indian Navy Band. An official arrival ceremony occurs earlier in the day. In Switzerland, because the head of state is the Swiss Federal Council, all seven Federal Councillors and their spouses are invited to state dinners in Bern during state visits. In the United Kingdom, the British sovereign hosts state banquets at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. The ballroom at Buckingham Palace seats about 170 diners, as seen at the 2019 banquet for President Donald Trump. Guests include many royal family members, a party from the visiting head of state, British politicians, leading figures, and notable people from the guest nation resident in the UK. The event is white tie, and decorations are worn.
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