King Edward VII succeeded to the throne of the United Kingdom in January 1901. During his reign he received plenty of state visits from foreign heads of state, all of which were from European countries, including the first state visit to Britain by a President of the French Republic. The state banquets for the visiting heads of state were held at either Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. A state visit normally included formal reception of the City of London at Guildhall. The King also received many less formal visits from foreign heads of state to Britain, including a visit of Shah Mozaffar ad-Din of Persia to Portsmouth in August 1902 and one of Emperor Nicholas II of Russia to Cowes in August 1909.