Posted by Samuel on Thu 19th Mar, 2026 - tori.ng
The British monarch made the comments while delivering a tribute to Nigeria’s profound influence on British life when he hosted a state banquet in honour of President Bola Tinubu.
On Wednesday, King Charles III humorously joined the ongoing West African jollof rice debate, joking that he couldn’t remember whether the “best” jollof rice he had at a recent royal event was Nigerian, Ghanaian, or Senegalese.
The British monarch made the comments while delivering a tribute to Nigeria’s profound influence on British life when he hosted a state banquet in honour of President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking during the event, the king recalled a recent gathering at St James’s Palace where the popular dish sparked friendly disagreement among guests.
“Only last week I was delighted to host a rather lively group of them for a jollof and tea party at St James’s Palace.
"I was firmly assured that the jollof was only the best, Nigerian of course, or perhaps it was Ghanaian or Senegalese.
“Diplomatically, I cannot remember,” King Charles said.
The remark drew attention to the enduring culinary rivalry among West African nations over which country prepares the best version of jollof rice, a staple dish widely celebrated across the region.
Watch the video below: