Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama kneeled to greet his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni as he hosted Europe’s leaders on Friday amid torrential rains.

The show began with Rama twirling a navy blue umbrella on a bright red carpet.

The Albanian Prime Minister greeted more than 40 leaders attending the meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), all with a smile and a word.

"Where all of Europe has come today and where the whole world will be watching, I say hello to you," the prime minister wrote on Instagram ahead of the gathering

When Meloni arrived, Rama knelt playfully to the ground and welcomed the Italian Prime Minister with a respectful ‘namaste’.

Rama greeted French President Emmanuel Macron, saying: "Here’s the Sun King".

After days of sunshine in Tirana when it rained heavily on Friday, Rama even had a punchline for the British in attendance.

“There was a suspicion but it became scientific proof from the European weather forecast institute that the persisting — and not indigenous — rain was brought by the British delegation yesterday morning," Rama told leaders.