Prince William and Kate welcome Ukraine president at palace

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greeted Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his wife Olena in a brief meeting at the palace's Throne Room on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II.

The two couples did not wear masks but they did not shake hands, and observed social distancing while conversing from two ornate couches.

Buckingham Palace, the queen's central London residence and the monarchy's administrative hub, has not been used for a royal event since March when the coronavirus lockdown was announced.

Its State Rooms are usually open to the public during the summer, but they have remained closed along with other royal attractions.

Zelenskiy and his wife are on a two-day visit and are expected to meet Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab later.(AP)