Prince Charles meets Cuban president in historic moment

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were given the red carpet treatment in Cuba on Monday night at a historic meeting with the President of the socialist state.

The couple arrived at the Palacio de la Revolución - the president’s official building - and walked past a Guard of Honour inside the large conservatory-style reception area bedecked with marble floors and foliage.

They were then greeted by Cuba’s leader, Miguel Diaz Canel, and his spouse, Lis Cuesta Peraza.

Unusually, Camilla was asked to stand with the delegation while the national anthems of both Cuba and the UK were played before the heir to the throne inspected the troops.

The two men then sat down for a private bilateral meeting ahead of an official dinner hosted by the President and his spouse.

Diaz Canel became Cuba’s leader last year following Raul’s retirement. Raul remains First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, holding ultimate power and authority over state and government.

The Communist leader visited the Prince last November at Clarence House in a meeting which paved the way for this week’s ground-breaking royal tour.

Charles and Camilla have this week become the first British royals to visit post- revolutionary Cuba since 1959.