What Is A State Dinner?

A state dinner is usually organized by a host country, to honour the official visit of a head of state from another nation. Generally, a state dinner will be organized by the guest's official counterpart. This means that a president with mainly symbolic functions would be greeted by the Queen in the United Kingdom, or a Governor General in Commonwealth countries.

A number of guests would be present at a state dinner, including government ministers, high-ranking diplomats, a few Members of Parliament, military attaches, and representatives of any local ethnic, or national community, which may be of the same origin as the visiting president.

A state dinner usually takes place at the residence of the head of state, if appropriate facilities are available, and it tends to start with a standing reception. Following this, the guests are normally invited into the dining hall, where everyone must stand at their assigned table and wait for the presidents or governor general to enter and take their seat at the head table. The dinner usually begins with a short speech and toast from the visiting head of state, as well as the host, or hostess. Most dinners are served with both red and white wine, mineral water and a liquor, or sweet wine with dessert. Dinner is then usually followed by another standing reception, including tea and coffee, and this usually closes the event.