The Queen and Charles welcome world leaders for state dinner

The Queen and Charles welcome world leaders for state dinner

The Queen was hailed as an 'icon' of the Commonwealth tonight by an African statesman who expressed the organisation's regret that she plans to wind down her work with it. 

In a toast to the monarch at a Buckingham Palace dinner for leaders and foreign ministers from the Commonwealth's 53 nations, Ghana's President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, offered their thanks to her. 

'We're led to to understand that she'll be winding down her duties as head of the Commonwealth,' he said of the Queen. 

'This toast thus takes on an added significance, for it falls upon me to express the depth of our collective regret that she will no longer automatically be present at our proceedings.

'It is my fervent hope that the deep love she has held for this association will continue to light the way for all of us.' He paid tribute to her ability to put visiting politicians at their ease and told 130 guests in the Picture Gallery: 'She will always be an icon of the Commonwealth.' 

The dinner, the first time that the Queen has hosted an evening meal in the Picture Gallery, had the air of a farewell party for the monarch, who will be 92 on Saturday and no longer travels abroad. 

The Ghanaian President said: 'We're led to to understand that she'll be winding down her duties as Head of the Commonwealth. This toast thus takes on an added significance, for it falls upon me to express the depth of our collective regret that she will no longer automatically be present at proceedings.

The organisation will undoubtedly be all the poorer for it.

'We will miss her inspiring presence, her calm, her steadiness and, above all, her great love and belief in the higher purpose of this Commonwealth of nations in its capacity to be a force for Good.'

He praised 'Her Majesty's legendary ability to put you at ease' as well as her 'lightness, her style and the sheer joy with which she carries out her duties'.

'It is my fervent hope that the deep love she has shown for this association will continue to light the way for all of us,' he continued.

'She will always be an icon of the Commonwealth.'

In an ivory white, beaded lace dress decorated with crystal daisies and designed by Angela Kelly, the Queen, wearing the Queen Mart tiara, a ruby and diamond necklace with matching earrings, and the Garter Star, welcomes her guests to her home. 

'It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all here tonight. As head of the Commonwealth, I am delighted to be able to host this occasion in the United Kingdom, for the first time in many years. 

'This dinner is always an opportunity for us to come together, as friends, and I am grateful that so many of you are here with us this time.' 'I know that all of my family join me in wishing you a very enjoyable evening. Thank you.' 

The younger royals were out in force at the dinner. The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry were joined by their cousins Princess Beatrice and Eugenie as well as older members of the family.  

The Queen looked especially delighted to greet Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

And Trudeau seemed to be the man of the hour as he chatted with Prince Harry, after earlier admitting he'd be missing the royal wedding next month, saying: 'I of course wish them the very best but I have important responsibilities elsewhere.'  

At tonight's black tie dinner, the 130 guests enjoyed a three-course meal washed down with wines from England, New Zealand, Australia, and Cyprus. 

A steady stream of world leaders began arriving at Buckingham Palace shortly before 7pm.

Prime Minister Theresa May was one of the first to arrive to the dinner, wearing a dark green and black evening gown with red patent heels, and was accompanied by her husband Philip May. 

The lavish dinner is ahead of anointing the Queen's successor on Friday, as she told foreign dignitaries earlier today of her 'sincere wish' that they pick Prince Charles to take over as leader of the Commonwealth.   

One-by-one luxury cars arrived to the palace, each dropping off a foreign leader in black tie attire. 

Representatives of each of the 53 member nations arrived in a convoy of Range Rovers, each escorted by a detective.

Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull was accompanied by wife Lucy, while New Zealand's visibly pregnant Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern arrived with her partner Clarke Gayford.

Trudeau smiled and waved to the cameras as he arrived alone for a drinks reception ahead of the dinner.

There were plenty of colourful outfits, with many guests arriving in traditional dress for the dinner in the Palace's picture gallery.

India's Narendra Modi was the last to arrive.

The Queen and Prince Charles will receive Commonwealth Heads of Government and their spouses in the Blue Drawing Room, before moving to the Picture Gallery for the night's meal, followed by a speech from Her Majesty.