Buckingham Palace. [Photo/IC]

President Xi Jinping will pay a five-day state visit to the United Kingdom from Monday at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II. It will be the first official visit by a Chinese president for a decade but friendship between Chinese leaders and British royals spans generations.

Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan will stay at Buckingham Palace which is preparing for its latest Chinese visitor. A high-profile welcome will be held at the palace, and Xi will later be shown around. His stay will include a glittering state banquet.