Prince William and Kate welcome Ukraine president at palace

Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (2L), his wife Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (C) talk with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (2R) and his wife Olena (R), during an audience at Buckingham Palace in central London on October 7, 2020. (AFP)

Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (L), his wife Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (2L) talk with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and his wife Olena, during an audience at Buckingham Palace in central London on October 7, 2020. (AFP)

Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge meet with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena during an audience at Buckingham Palace, in London, Britain October 7, 2020. (Reuters)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) and his wife Olena (L), arrive for an audience with Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and his wife Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, at Buckingham Palace in central London on October 7, 2020. (AFP)

• The two couples did not wear masks but they did not shake hands
• Zelenskiy and his wife are expected to meet the PM and Foreign Secretary later

LONDON: London's Buckingham Palace held its first royal event in more than six months on Wednesday as Prince William and his wife Kate welcomed Ukraine’s president and his wife.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greeted Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his wife Olena in a brief meeting at the palace’s Throne Room on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II. The two couples did not wear masks but they did not shake hands, and observed social distancing while conversing from two ornate couches.

Buckingham Palace, the queen’s central London residence and the monarchy’s administrative hub, has not been used for a royal event since March when the coronavirus lockdown was announced. Its State Rooms are usually open to the public during the summer, but they have remained closed along with other royal attractions.
Zelenskiy and his wife are on a two-day visit and are expected to meet Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab later.