King and French president Macron display entente cordiale as state visit begins
Charles kissed the hand of the president's wife Brigitte Macron, affectionately pulling it up to his lips, and was seen in deep conversation with the French leader during a carriage ride through Windsor, part of the pomp and pageantry afforded the president.
Windsor Castle is the setting for the start of Mr Macron's three-day state visit that has an important political backdrop, with the president and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer leading a Franco-British summit later this week that is likely to have action on Channel migrants top of the agenda.
Mr Macron arrived in the UK promising 'concrete, effective and lasting' co-operation on migration and is under pressure to do more to stop small boats crossing the English Channel.
The last French president to make a state visit to the UK was the now-disgraced Nicolas Sarkozy in March 2008 and Windsor has not hosted a visiting head since 2014, when Irish President Michael D Higgins travelled to the UK.
The King kisses the hand of Brigitte Macron, wife of Emmanuel Macron, at the start of the French president's three-day state visit (Chris Jackson/PA)
State visits capitalise on the royals' soft power to strengthen diplomatic ties with allies and Charles and Camilla warmly greeted the French leader and the first lady on a specially constructed Royal Dais near the town's Windsor and Eton Riverside train station, as a 41-gun salute thundered across the town.
Mr Macron rolled out the Gallic charm by taking Camilla's hand and leaning forward to air kiss it, having earlier greeted Kate at RAF Northolt in north-west London with the same gesture, after the Prince and Princess of Wales had the duty of meeting them when their plane arrived.
There were la bise kisses between Mrs Macron and the Queen, and as Mr Macron stood chatting to the King with ease, the president placed his hand on the monarch's back and gave it a few affectionate rubs.
The Queen, the King, President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron at the ceremonial welcome for his state visit to the UK at Windsor Castle (Jonathan Brady/PA)
The King was sporting a burst blood vessel in his right eye, which is said to have developed overnight and be unrelated to any other health conditions.
A carriage procession was staged through the streets of Windsor, with Charles and the president riding past Windsor Guildhall, where the King married his consort in 2005, followed by their wives and behind them William and Kate in another carriage.
The pomp and pageantry saw more than 950 servicemen and women from all three armed services, and 70 horses, taking part in the ceremonial welcome, from troops lining the carriage procession route to a guard of honour featuring guardsmen from two of the British Army's oldest regiments the Grenadier Guards and Scots Guards.
The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to view the Royal Collection exhibition of French-related artefacts with President Macron and his wife (Benjamin Cremel/PA)
Mr Macron inspected the troops with Major Jake Sayers of the Grenadier Guards, captain of the guard of honour, accompanied by the King who followed tradition and walked a few paces behind.
When the royal party left for a private lunch the King, Queen and President Macron and his wife walked four abreast in step with each other as Kate and William followed.
The Entente Cordiale was signed between UK and France in 1904 and ushered in improved relations between the two nations, who had fought against each other during the Napoleonic Wars.
After his coronation the King, accompanied by the Queen, carried out a state visit to France in September 2023.
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Wales Online
30 minutes ago
- Wales Online
I stayed at one of the most luxurious apartments in Wales with the best sea view
I stayed at one of the most luxurious apartments in Wales with the best sea view A hidden gem in the heart of one of Wales' most wonderful coastal towns that's the best I've ever seen - pop inside and have a look Mesmerising - the sea view from the French doors, not me (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) There's a hidden gem in one of Wales' most popular places to stay that is so breathtaking not just in its location but with the luxury that it offers that when we turned up to stay we really did not want to leave. If you tell people you're going to spend a night away in Pembrokeshire they usually visualise a pretty little cottage, a character-packed hotel, or a historic property but our place to spend a night was none of these and, in my opinion, it was better. Think Tenby and you probably think of the painted predominantly Georgian houses that line the clifftop roads. But our place to call home was an apartment that has gone from dated and drab to the most luxurious apartment I have ever experienced with incredible views from all the main windows but also a range of tech to keep the teenagers happy and clever, inspiring, and beautiful interiors to keep me enthralled. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here. READ MORE: Incredible transformation of dated Tenby flat in a clifftop building into a luxury apartment with the best sea views YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Inside Martin Roberts' huge Welsh pub renovation project as he addresses lap dancing club rumours Gunfort Mansion above Tenby's South Beach that's hiding a gem of a property inside (Image: Item 2 Ltd ) Article continues below Well, of course, every frontline property in Tenby has a magnificent view but at Min Y Mor the owners who spent years creating this wonderful apartment have maximised its position above South Beach with window seats, a Juliet balcony, and a designer chair nestled within the bay of one of the two bedrooms that has a direct and uninterrupted view of St Catherine's Island and fort. 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The cinema screen TV and all the streaming services were a big hit (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) Cleverly hidden behind a piece of wall art that slowly slides open, the screen impressed everyone and Peaky Blinders and The Mandalorian looked even more incredible in this mini home cinema while relaxing on the oversized curved sofa. At some point I wandered off to the second bedroom with a glass of wine and sat in the designer 'saddle' chair with footstool in the bay window and watched the tide slowly meander up the beach and people strolling around St Catherine's Island. The welcome basket of local produce left by the owners came with me and was a delightful companion. The designer chair in the bay of bedroom two has an amazing view of Castle Beach and St Catherine's Island (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) When I surfaced from my surprise kip in the chair, the result of an afternoon glass of wine, the surround sound system had been discovered and Dua Lipa was serenading us from every angle while we made plans to go out to get a fish and chip takeaway dinner. The kitchen is well-equipped but with only 24 hours to enjoy our trip to Tenby it felt almost like the law that we had to try out the town's fish and chips, eating it at the dining table. The view from the open French doors in the kitchen diner was special too (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) The kitchen diner area is another thoughtful use of space and design. The kitchen is bespoke and handmade and not sleek and shiny but more in keeping with the apartment's location. 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Clever way to share light between two internal spaces and yet keep privacy (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) More genius ideas to make a smaller space work well was found in the shower room – with space tight in the room that used to be a corridor the shower was a Jack and Jill shower in the middle of the room, with extra light brought into the space by high-level slatted internal windows in the dividing wall with the principal bedroom. Maybe the feature, other than the magnificent dual-aspect views and the mega TV, that impressed the most was the copper bath, lit from below and the main statement piece in the principal bedroom en suite. For more property, renovation, and interior design stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here. The bath was a thing of beauty (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) Both bathroom facilities were fascinatingly-designed spaces – dark colours, a mix of functional and also mood lighting, and key tactile features such as exposed brick walls, which was such a visual contrast to the white and contemporary living and sleeping areas. Lighting is always key to a successful interior design and as the evening crept in it was obvious that the family had thought about the ambience of the apartment during the dark hours when renovating this property. Fluffy cloud statement light in the lounge became very atmospheric at night (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) Hidden LED lighting and spots highlighted artwork and sculptures and statement ceiling pendants in the kitchen and bedrooms added pools of soft light. 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South Wales Argus
32 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Twelfth of July parades begin across Northern Ireland
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The Herald Scotland
42 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Twelfth of July parades begin across Northern Ireland
The festivities will be spread across 19 main locations to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, when the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. An Orange Order feeder parade passed the Ardoyne shops in north Belfast without incident on Saturday. Members of the Orange order gather at Clifton street Orange hall in Belfast (Mark Marlow/PA) DUP leader Gavin Robinson will address the parade in Belfast while Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly will deliver a speech at the Lisburn parade. The Twelfth celebrations come after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it dealt with a 'challenging' situation and one firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn, Co Antrim. Northern Ireland's Environment Minister Andrew Muir said he was 'very disappointed' that a controversial bonfire in south Belfast was lit despite warnings of asbestos on the site. Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, about 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission. It was a challenging & extremely busy night for NIFRS. Between 6pm & 2am, we received 277 emergency calls. This resulted in our Firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of these incidents were bonfire related. Read our full statement: — Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) July 12, 2025 Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy. More than 4,000 police officers and police staff will be working on July 12. On the 11th night, about 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires. The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was £6.1 million last year, a figure that was up £1.5 million on the previous year. The bill, which covers the period April 1 to August 31, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles. The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. Preparing for the Twelfth at Clifton Street Orange hall in Belfast (Mark Marlow/PA) This is because of falling police numbers and the resulting increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has urged mutual respect in the marking of events. He said: 'Our officers will be on the ground throughout the weekend, working in partnership with community leaders, event organisers, and local representatives to support lawful, peaceful and family-friendly events. However where necessary, we will take firm and proportionate action to keep people safe. 'Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone.' On Sunday an Orange Order parade will return past the Ardoyne shops but will be restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. It is a return parade at the former flashpoint which traditionally took place on the evening of July 12, often resulting in violent scenes. Meanwhile, the traditional July 13 events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh will take place on Monday. The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James.
