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UK TO RESTRICT ITS AIRSPACE FOR TINUBU’S STATE VISIT

March 12, 2026 • Dons Eze • 2 min read

Airspace restrictions and enhanced security measures will be in place in Windsor during the state visit of Nigeria’s president.

King Charles will host Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu at Windsor Castle on 18 and 19 March.

State visits are the highest level of diplomatic visit hosted by the monarch.

Thames Valley Police said the restrictions would include an extended airspace exclusion zone over the town alongside a large policing operation.

The castle is already subject to a permanent airspace restriction, but this will be extended on 18 March between 07:00 and 23:59 GMT.

Police warned that anyone breaching the restriction would “likely” be arrested.

Three police officers wearing hi-viz vests are pictured walking from behind. They are walking in the direction of Windsor Castle, which is visible in the background.

Thames Valley Police said “significant planning” had gone into the state visit

Search teams, armed units, mounted officers and roads policing officers will all be deployed as part of the operation.

Neighbourhood officers and Project Servator teams – which carry out unpredictable patrols designed to deter and detect criminal activity – will also be in the town engaging with the public.

Police said they would also make use of Windsor’s extensive CCTV network and hostile vehicle mitigation barriers.

Ch Supt Adrian Hall, of the joint operations unit, said: “As a force, we have a vast amount of experience in policing royal events in Windsor and significant planning and preparation has gone into this event.

“We will ensure everyone attending the state visit, including dignitaries, spectators and members of the public, are kept safe to enjoy the historic occasion.”

Several road closures and parking restrictions will be in place from 17 March, external, and officers warned there could be temporary disruption to roads in and around Windsor during the visit.

Some footways and pedestrian crossings in the town centre will also close periodically between 09:30 and 12:30 on 17 and 18 March for a ceremonial procession.

Dons Eze

DONS EZE, PhD, Political Philosopher and Journalist of over four decades standing, worked in several newspaper houses across the country, and rose to the positions of Editor and General Manager. A UNESCO Fellow in Journalism, Dr. Dons Eze, a prolific writer and author of many books, attended several courses on Journalism and Communication in both Nigeria and overseas, including a Postgraduate Course on Journalism at Warsaw, Poland; Strategic Communication and Practical Communication Approach at RIPA International, London, the United Kingdom, among others.