Pineapples, a traditional symbol of wealth and hospitality at Buckingham Palace state banquets, were absent from the recent Japanese state banquet. Royal aides dropped the fruit course to allow more mingling time among guests. Traditionally featured since Charles I's reign, pineapples were part of the decor and menu at previous banquets for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Instead, the latest banquet focused on flowers, with guests enjoying petit fours, coffee, and digestifs instead of a fruit course, enhancing the mingling experience.
