President Xi Jinping's visit will also receive a warm welcome from the British Monarchy. Queen Elizabeth the second, who has met with some of the most famous leaders in recent history, is expected to greet President Xi at Buckingham Palace.

President Xi Jinping's visit will also receive a warm welcome from the British Monarchy. Queen Elizabeth the second, who has met with some of the most famous leaders in recent history, is expected to greet President Xi at Buckingham Palace.?

The State Opening of Parliament, a time of year when Britain's Queen Elizabeth is revealed in her full regal pomp.

Stamping a majestic authority on her government's Parliamentary plans.

It is in essence acting out of curious contradiction at the heart of British political life -- a hereditary institution sitting atop a democratic system of government.

"There is absolutely nothing logical about why Britain loves the Monarchy and loves the Queen. It's quirky, eccentric, but that's why we love her," said Andrew Pierce, Daily Mail Associate Editor.

Although apparently entrenching elitism and privilege, most in Britain have a love of the continuity offered by Royalty and the Queen in particular.

Since her coronation in 1952 Britain's Monarch has seen out 12 UK Prime Ministers and met with some of the most famous leaders from history, including in this rare footage China's Deng Xiao Ping.

It's 10 years since China's former President Hu Jintao made a State Visit to Britain, the arrival of Xi Jinping regarded here as a barometer of Sino-UK relations at their warmest in decades.

"I would say the warmest welcome ever. And the Queen would have taken her lead from her ministers and will have said put out the red carpet, put out the flags, really give them a great show, because we want to cement even warmer relations with China," Pierce.

Queen Elizabeth meets China's President shortly after she became the longest serving Monarch in British history -- taking the title aged 89 years from her Great Great Grandmother Queen Victoria.

Typically modest when marking the occasion:

"Inevitably a long life can pass by many milestones, my own is no exception," said Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

Its here China's President will be greeted by the British Monarch, indulging among other formal events in a banquet with the Queen.

It'll be an opportunity for him to see first hand the workings of an ancient institution that while apparently a 21st century paradox, remains much loved locally and admired by governments around the world.