Chinese president hosted by Queen at Buckingham Palace state banquet, Kate dazzles as always

[caption id=“attachment_2476874” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off his first state visit to the UK by hailing the “friendship” between the two countries, which he expects to hit a “new height”. At a Buckingham Palace banquet, Xi said China and Britain were partners who had the same goals and vision and paid tribute to their alliance during World War II. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2476876” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Supporters of Chinese President Xi Jinping stand under a large Chinese flag before the President passes by on a horse-drawn carriage with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II on the Mall en route to Buckingham Palace in London. AP Photo[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2476878” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] China’s President Xi Jinping addresses members of parliament and peers in Parliament’s Royal Gallery. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2476880” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Britain’s Prince William, right, the Duke of Cambridge talks with China’s President Xi Jinping. He will meet Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street on 21 October and is expected to put pen to paper on Chinese investments into the controversial Hinkley Point nuclear power plant in Somerset. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2476882” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] China’s President Xi Jinping, right, and his wife Peng Liyuan, centre left, accompany Britain’s Queen Elizabeth Prince Philip as they arrive for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace in London, on the first full day of his state visit.  AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2476884” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] The Queen said that this was an “unprecedented year of co-operation and friendship” between the two countries. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2476886” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] The Duchess of Cambridge dazzled in the Queen Mother’s tiara as she took pride of place on the top table next to Chinese president Xi Jinping and the Queen at the state banquet held in his honour this evening. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2476888” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] The Queen gave a speech ahead of the sit down meal, where guests dined on West Coast turbot and Balmoral venison, and hailed the visit by Mr Xi and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan as ‘milestone’, declaring Anglo-Chinese ties are being taken to ‘ambitious’ new heights. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2476890” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and the Duchess of Cambridge, left, listen as Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at a state banquet in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace. AP[/caption]