Elections bring VIP visitors to UK

With a record numbers going to the polls in 2024 the Embassy Event Expo was busier than ever as protocol officers brace themselves for a bumper year for VIP visits to the UK

More than 160 diplomats, defence attachés and embassy officers from 88 missions across London’s diplomatic community gathered at the Rosewood Hotel for the annual Embassy Event Expo to help plan their visits programmes for the year ahead.

The volume of VIP visitors to the UK is likely to be high in 2024 as newly-elected heads of government and foreign ministers embark on courtesy calls in key world capitals. To help them prepare, protocol and visits officers received an important briefing on logistics planning for VIP visits from the Protocol Directorate at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the UK Border Force.

Elizabeth Stewart (Embassy Network) with Tom Lodge (UK Border Force) and Nikki Mayhew (FCDO) in the VIP Visits briefing

VIP Visits
Nikki Mayhew, the Head of VIP Arrivals and Departures at the Protocol Directorate, outlined how her team advises missions on logistics, including  facilitating VIP visitors through the UK’s airports; liaising with Border Force on immigration matters; advising missions on eligibility from security screening; and arranging for special representatives to greet the VIP on arrival.

Protocol Officers also heard from Tom Lodge of the UK Border Force who informed them of imminent changes to the Advanced Passenger Information (API) forms that need to be completed prior to a VIP arrival. The new form will streamline advanced checks and data can be uploaded quicker, thus enabling UK Border Force to manage multiple arrivals more efficiently. The new API form will come into effect on 8 April 2024 and missions will receive an official notification and a guide on completing the form.

The new format, with drop-down menus, is more user-friendly and will help avoid errors or incomplete forms being submitted, which can cause delays in processing delegations.

Protocol Officers in attendance used the forum to raise concerns about the lengthy delays experienced by their VIP visitors at UK airports and appealed for the introduction of a dedicated diplomatic lane.

The FCDO and Border Force speakers said discussions were taking place to seek ways to alleviate delays at UK ports for VIP visitors.

David Warren, Julie Russell and Eluned Hâf tell diplomats why Wales is a great place to visit

Devolution Delegations
This year’s Devolution Diplomacy session – aimed at encouraging diplomats to expand their programmes to include the UK’s many varied regions – threw the spotlight on Wales as the event took place on St David’s Day. Badges all had a yellow daffodil in celebration of the National Day of Wales.

Diplomats heard from David Warren and Julie Russell of the Welsh government and Eluned Hâf, head of Welsh Arts International, on why the principality had much to offer parliamentary, cultural, economic and defence delegations.

Protocol officers and diplomatic service providers network in the exhibition area

Exhibition
In between the sessions, diplomats were able to meet a range of visits and events service providers in the exhibition area. The day ended with a convivial networking reception and prize draw.

Main photo: The 2024 Embassy Event Expo drew capacity crowds