**South African President Jacob Zuma has arrived in Britain for a three-day state visit.**He arrived at Heathrow Airport with wife Thobeka Madiba Zuma, where he was greeted by Viscount Brookeborough, on behalf of the Queen.
Mr Zuma is a polygamist who has married at least five times and has 19 children, faced corruption charges and has been acquitted of a rape charge.
During his visit he will meet political leaders and attend a state banquet.
Mr Zuma and Prince Philip will review a guard of honour at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall on Wednesday before joining the Queen and Mrs Zuma for a state carriage procession along the Mall to Buckingham Palace, as part of his official welcome to the UK.
Gordon Brown will miss prime minister’s questions in the Commons to take part in the welcoming ceremony.
He will hold talks with Mr Zuma on Thursday, when the two leaders are expected to discuss Zimbabwe as well as climate change, the global economy and the football World Cup, which South Africa is hosting this summer.
Political meetings
The president and Mrs Zuma will also visit the former home of anti-apartheid politician Oliver Tambo in Muswell Hill, north London on Wednesday.
Mr Zuma will then have meetings at Buckingham Palace with Conservative leader David Cameron and Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats.
The Queen will also host a state banquet for the South African guests in Buckingham Palace’s ballroom on Wednesday evening.
On Thursday the presidential couple will visit the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, with Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell.
Later that evening Mr Zuma will give a speech during a banquet at the Guildhall hosted by the Lord Mayor of London.
On Friday, the final day of the visit, Mr Zuma will formally say goodbye to the Queen before visiting the Prince of Wales at Clarence House.