The UK is one of the first countries with which the Ottoman Empire established regular diplomatic relations. In 1579, Queen Elizabeth I and Sultan Murat III exchanged letters on how the English merchants could benefit from the capitulations granted by the Ottoman Empire. William Harborne, English businessman, was the first envoy of England to the Ottoman Empire. He assumed his duties as the resident ambassador in Istanbul in 1583.

The Ottoman Empire appointed its first resident envoys to Europe at the end of the 18th century with a view to following the developments in Europe. The first of these ambassadors, Yusuf Agâh Efendi, was posted to London in 1793. There has been a Turkish diplomatic mission in London since then. However, diplomatic relations between the Ottoman Empire and the UK was suspended in 1914 following the outbreak of World War I. After the proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye on 29 October 1923, diplomatic relations were established on 2 September 1924.

Important dates in the Embassy history

1793 : The first resident embassy of the Ottoman Empire in London was opened.

July 1867 : Sultan Abdulaziz visited London.

1901 : The Embassy moved from 1 Bryanston Square to 69 Portland Place

1914 : Diplomatic relations were suspended due to World War I.

1924 : The Embassy re-opened.

1 August 1950 : Türkiye applied for NATO membership when NATO had its headquarters in London.

1954 : Chancery moved to 43 Belgrave Square.

29 August 1955 : London Conference on Cyprus was held.

17 February 1959 : The plane carrying Turkish Prime Minister to England for the London Conference crashed near London.

19 February 1959 : The Treaty of London on the future of the island Cyprus was signed.

1-8 November 1967 : H.E. Cevdet Sunay, President of Türkiye visited the UK.

12-15 November 1987 : H.E. Kenan Evren, President of Türkiye visited the UK.

6-9 November 2010 : H.E. Abdullah Gül, President of Türkiye visited the UK (to receive the Chatham House 2010 Prize).

20-24 November 2011 : H.E. Abdullah Gül, President of Türkiye paid a state visit the UK.

30-31 Mart 2011 : H.E.Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,Prime Ministerof Türkiye visited the UK.

26-28 July 2012 : H.E.Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,Prime Ministerof Türkiye visited the UK (to attend the inauguration ceremony of the 2012 London Summer Olympics).

4-5 September 2014:H.E.Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,President of Türkiye visited the UK (to attend the NATO Summit).

3-4 December 2019:H.E.Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,President of Türkiye visited the UK (to attend the NATO Summit).