The Government should advise the Monarch against facilitating a ceremonial head of state visit where a foreign state is engaged in hostile activity - whether economic, diplomatic, military or otherwise - that is directly contrary to UK interests and/or the rule of international law.

The Monarch acts on the advice of the Government of the day when deciding whether to facilitate the considerable honour of a ceremonial head of state visit with the UK. We think it is not appropriate to offer such an honour in cases where the foreign state concerned is engaged in taking or promoting activity directly and seriously contrary to our national interests. A state visit is even more inappropriate in situations where the head of state is personally directing any such hostile action.