Prime Minister Narendra Modi met King Charles III at Sandringham House in the UK on Thursday, shortly after India and Britain sealed a historic Free Trade Agreement aimed at enhancing economic collaboration.

The Royal Family confirmed the meeting in a social media post, noting that King Charles welcomed the Indian Prime Minister at his Norfolk estate that afternoon. During their interaction, PM Modi gifted the monarch a tree sapling as part of a symbolic gesture tied to his green initiative.

The sapling, a Davidia involucrata ‘Sonoma’—commonly referred to as the dove tree or handkerchief tree for its distinctive white bracts—will be planted later this year. Unlike its traditional variant which takes years to bloom, the 'Sonoma' cultivar is known for flowering within just a few years.

The gift was in line with Modi’s environmental campaign, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, which urges citizens to plant a tree in memory or honour of their mothers. The initiative has gained national momentum and emphasizes environmental responsibility.

The diplomatic visit coincided with the finalization of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, signed earlier in the day in London by India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.

The trade deal, considered India's most significant in over a decade and the UK’s first major bilateral agreement since Brexit, is expected to boost trade between the two nations by around $34 billion annually.

Prime Minister Modi described the agreement as a “shared vision for mutual prosperity,” noting that it would open new doors for Indian farmers, small and medium enterprises, and professionals by providing expanded market access.

Under the pact, a range of Indian exports—including textiles, gems, seafood, engineering goods, and processed foods—will enjoy near zero-duty access to the UK market, strengthening India’s manufacturing and job sectors.