Latest news with #FranceintheUK
Glasgow Times
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
William and Kate to join King and Queen for Macron's Windsor carriage ride
Kate, who has opened up about her 'rollercoaster' cancer recovery, its life-changing impact and putting on a 'brave face', will carry out royal duties as part of the French leader's state visit on Tuesday. Kensington Palace has yet to confirm whether or not the princess will attend the banquet in Windsor Castle's St George's Hall in the evening. The King and Queen are hosting French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte next week (Daniel Leal/PA) The princess, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and confirmed she was free from the disease at the start of this year, last made an appearance at a grand royal dinner 20 months ago in November 2023 in honour of the South Korean president. Mr Macron's state visit to the UK, from July 8-10, is the first to be hosted at Windsor Castle, rather than Buckingham Palace, in a more than a decade since that of the Irish president Michael D Higgins in 2014. In a personal touch, the King and Queen will, on Wednesday, take the Macrons to see Fabuleu de Maucour, a 10-year-old grey gelding which Mr Macron gifted to known horse-lover the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee. Fabuleu de Maucour belonged to the largely ceremonial French Republican Guard and was trained to carry the standard-bearer. Fabuleu de Maucour, the horse gifted by @EmmanuelMacron to HM The Queen in 2022 for her Platinum Jubilee, was today present at the Brigade Major's Review. Riding Fabuleu was Master of the Horse, Lord De Mauley. Watch this space to see them on 17 June for Trooping the Colour!🐴 — French Embassy UK🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@FranceintheUK) June 1, 2023 They will also view an elegant Charabanc carriage from the Royal Mews, which was a present to Queen Victoria from King Louis-Philippe of France in 1844. And the Macrons will privately pay their respects at the late Queen's tomb in St George's Chapel by laying flowers in tribute. Charles, Ranger of Windsor Great Park, will also invite the president to tour the Windsor Castle Gardens, including areas of nature restoration and biodiversity and the wider Great Park. State visits, which capitalise on the royals' soft power to strengthen diplomatic ties overseas, have moved from Buckingham Palace to Windsor for the next few years while reservicing work continues at the London royal residence and starts to affect the state rooms. The King with President of France Emmanuel Macron during the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock in July 2024 (Hollie Adams/PA) The arrangements are likely to form the template for US president Donald Trump's high-profile state visit in September, but much will depend on security considerations for the US leader, who survived an assassination attempt last year. William and Kate will meet Mr and Mrs Macron at RAF Northolt on Tuesday morning on behalf of the King and travel with them to Windsor. Charles and Camilla will formerly greet their guests on a Royal Dais constructed on Datchet Road in Windsor town centre, with the castle in the backdrop as gun salutes sound in nearby Home Park. The King, the Queen, the Waleses and Mr and Mrs Macron will then take a carriage procession through the Berkshire town and along part of the Long Walk which leads to the castle, just like President Sarkozy did. French President Nicolas Sarkozy rides in a carriage with Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle in 2008 (Darren Staples/PA) A ceremonial welcome will be staged in the castle's quadrangle with Camilla, William, Kate and Mrs Macron watching as the King and Mr Macron inspect the Guard of Honour. Lunch will be hosted in the State Dining Room, after which the president and his wife, the King and Queen and members of the royal family will view a special exhibition of items relating to France from the Royal Collection in the Green Drawing Room. Mr and Mrs Macron will also travel to London on Tuesday afternoon to see the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, visit the Palace of Westminster where the French leader will address parliamentarians in the Royal Gallery, and meet opposition leaders at Lancaster House. The King and president will both deliver speeches at the banquet on Tuesday evening. Queen Elizabeth II toasts after her speech during a state banquet in honour of the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins at Windsor Castle in 2014 (Dan Kitwood/PA) Wednesday will see the president and Mrs Macron join Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Lady Starmer for lunch at Downing Street, ahead of a UK-France summit at Number 10 on Thursday. The King and Queen paid a state visit to France in September 2023 and enjoy a warm rapport with Mr and Mrs Macron, who will stay in the castle during their trip. The last state visit to the UK from France was in March 2008 when the now-disgraced president Nicolas Sarkozy, since convicted of corruption and influence peddling, and his wife Carla Bruni, were the guests of Elizabeth II at Windsor. The Princess of Wales planting a rose during a visit to the RHS's Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital this week (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The King, who is still being treated for cancer, has had a busy recent run of engagements, carrying out a host of visits in Scotland for Royal Week. Kate, who spoke about the challenges of her recovery during a visit to the RHS's Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital on Wednesday, took part in the Qatari state visit last December, accompanying the Emir to Horse Guards Parade with William, attending the ceremonial welcome, the lunch and the Picture Gallery exhibition.
Western Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
William and Kate to join King and Queen for Macron's Windsor carriage ride
Kate, who has opened up about her 'rollercoaster' cancer recovery, its life-changing impact and putting on a 'brave face', will carry out royal duties as part of the French leader's state visit on Tuesday. Kensington Palace has yet to confirm whether or not the princess will attend the banquet in Windsor Castle's St George's Hall in the evening. The King and Queen are hosting French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte next week (Daniel Leal/PA) The princess, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and confirmed she was free from the disease at the start of this year, last made an appearance at a grand royal dinner 20 months ago in November 2023 in honour of the South Korean president. Mr Macron's state visit to the UK, from July 8-10, is the first to be hosted at Windsor Castle, rather than Buckingham Palace, in a more than a decade since that of the Irish president Michael D Higgins in 2014. In a personal touch, the King and Queen will, on Wednesday, take the Macrons to see Fabuleu de Maucour, a 10-year-old grey gelding which Mr Macron gifted to known horse-lover the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee. Fabuleu de Maucour belonged to the largely ceremonial French Republican Guard and was trained to carry the standard-bearer. Fabuleu de Maucour, the horse gifted by @EmmanuelMacron to HM The Queen in 2022 for her Platinum Jubilee, was today present at the Brigade Major's Review. Riding Fabuleu was Master of the Horse, Lord De Mauley. Watch this space to see them on 17 June for Trooping the Colour!🐴 — French Embassy UK🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@FranceintheUK) June 1, 2023 They will also view an elegant Charabanc carriage from the Royal Mews, which was a present to Queen Victoria from King Louis-Philippe of France in 1844. And the Macrons will privately pay their respects at the late Queen's tomb in St George's Chapel by laying flowers in tribute. Charles, Ranger of Windsor Great Park, will also invite the president to tour the Windsor Castle Gardens, including areas of nature restoration and biodiversity and the wider Great Park. State visits, which capitalise on the royals' soft power to strengthen diplomatic ties overseas, have moved from Buckingham Palace to Windsor for the next few years while reservicing work continues at the London royal residence and starts to affect the state rooms. The King with President of France Emmanuel Macron during the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock in July 2024 (Hollie Adams/PA) The arrangements are likely to form the template for US president Donald Trump's high-profile state visit in September, but much will depend on security considerations for the US leader, who survived an assassination attempt last year. William and Kate will meet Mr and Mrs Macron at RAF Northolt on Tuesday morning on behalf of the King and travel with them to Windsor. Charles and Camilla will formerly greet their guests on a Royal Dais constructed on Datchet Road in Windsor town centre, with the castle in the backdrop as gun salutes sound in nearby Home Park. The King, the Queen, the Waleses and Mr and Mrs Macron will then take a carriage procession through the Berkshire town and along part of the Long Walk which leads to the castle, just like President Sarkozy did. French President Nicolas Sarkozy rides in a carriage with Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle in 2008 (Darren Staples/PA) A ceremonial welcome will be staged in the castle's quadrangle with Camilla, William, Kate and Mrs Macron watching as the King and Mr Macron inspect the Guard of Honour. Lunch will be hosted in the State Dining Room, after which the president and his wife, the King and Queen and members of the royal family will view a special exhibition of items relating to France from the Royal Collection in the Green Drawing Room. Mr and Mrs Macron will also travel to London on Tuesday afternoon to see the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, visit the Palace of Westminster where the French leader will address parliamentarians in the Royal Gallery, and meet opposition leaders at Lancaster House. The King and president will both deliver speeches at the banquet on Tuesday evening. Queen Elizabeth II toasts after her speech during a state banquet in honour of the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins at Windsor Castle in 2014 (Dan Kitwood/PA) Wednesday will see the president and Mrs Macron join Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Lady Starmer for lunch at Downing Street, ahead of a UK-France summit at Number 10 on Thursday. The King and Queen paid a state visit to France in September 2023 and enjoy a warm rapport with Mr and Mrs Macron, who will stay in the castle during their trip. The last state visit to the UK from France was in March 2008 when the now-disgraced president Nicolas Sarkozy, since convicted of corruption and influence peddling, and his wife Carla Bruni, were the guests of Elizabeth II at Windsor. The Princess of Wales planting a rose during a visit to the RHS's Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital this week (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The King, who is still being treated for cancer, has had a busy recent run of engagements, carrying out a host of visits in Scotland for Royal Week. Kate, who spoke about the challenges of her recovery during a visit to the RHS's Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital on Wednesday, took part in the Qatari state visit last December, accompanying the Emir to Horse Guards Parade with William, attending the ceremonial welcome, the lunch and the Picture Gallery exhibition.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Europe Debates Sending Troops To Ukraine
Leaders of several European nations met in Paris today to discuss whether to send troops to help bolster any deal to end the Ukraine war, and if so, what they would do there. A lot of those decisions, however, depend on what kind of support, if any, the U.S. would provide. That's if an agreement is even reached, which is still an open question. The French-led effort to ramp up ongoing discussions about committing boots on the ground was spurred by the Trump administration last week cutting Europe out of the negotiations, which are set to begin tomorrow in Saudi Arabia between Washington and Moscow. While not giving European nations a seat at the table, Trump has suggested they could play a peacekeeping role there. PM @Keir_Starmer joins President @EmmanuelMacron in #Paris for an informal meeting on #Ukraine & European security. — French Embassy UK (@FranceintheUK) February 17, 2025 The Washington Post on Monday reported that European nations could contribute upwards of 30,000 troops 'who would not be stationed along the contact line but would stand ready as a show of force if Russian forces tried to restart the war,' the publication reported, citing four officials with knowledge of the plans. 'The troops could be backstopped by more forces outside Ukraine in case they need to ramp up and move quickly.' There is ongoing discussion between those nations and the Trump administration on what assets the U.S. would be willing to provide to back up any international force and what Europeans are willing to commit. While decrying Trump's move to leave them out of the negotiations, the European leaders say much of their planning is contingent on U.S. support. To date, the U.S. has ruled out providing troops, though Trump's peace envoy Keith Kellogg on Monday suggested that 'the policy has always been that you take no options off the table,' Reuters reported. So far there have been few solid promises from European nations for that effort. European leaders planned to meet Monday on how they might influence talks that could determine the future of Ukraine and of Europe's security landscape. — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 17, 2025 France 'has done more advanced military planning than others and estimates that it could commit nearly 10,000 troops,' the Post posited. On Sunday, U.K. Prime Minister Kier Starmer broached the possibility of contributing troops to any peacekeeping force in an opinion piece for The Telegraph. In addition to guaranteeing Ukraine 3 billion pounds per year (about $3.79 billion) in military aid through at least 2030, Starmer wrote that supporting Kyiv 'means being ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary.' 'I do not say that lightly. I feel very deeply the responsibility that comes with potentially putting British servicemen and women in harm's way. But any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine's security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country,' he explained without offering any specifics. UK PM Sir Keir Starmer says UK "ready and willing" to put troops on the ground in Ukraine to help guarantee its security as part of a peace deal — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) February 16, 2025 Sweden and the Netherlands were more vague about offering to send forces. Sweden said that it would not rule out sending troops to Ukraine if necessary, while the Netherlands is 'not negative' about a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Germany, Poland and Spain each dismissed the possibility of sending troops, at least in the near term. 'Unfortunately we are still a long way off' from such a decision, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, adding that 'it's quite clear that a very strong Ukrainian army, even in peacetime, must be at the core' of any solution. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk offered a similar stance. Warsaw 'does not foresee sending Polish soldiers to Ukraine,' he told reporters before boarding a flight to Paris. 'Nobody is currently considering sending troops to Ukraine,' said José Manuel Albares, Spain's foreign minister, according to Financial Times. 'Peace is still very far away and for one reason only: Vladimir Putin.' Albares added that any discussion of troop deployments or peacekeepers would 'have to consider for what mission, who will comprise it, under what flag, with what mandate.' Europe Divided Over Sending Troops to UkraineAt a Paris meeting, European leaders debated deploying troops to Ukraine amid Trump's peace talks with Russia. France: Macron proposed a 'reassurance force' behind a future ceasefire line, avoiding direct frontline engagement.… — Clash Report (@clashreport) February 17, 2025 For his part, Zelensky said foreign boots on Ukrainian soil are not the only option to back up a future peace deal. 'I believe that this is the first platform for the future creation of such a force — the Armed Forces of Europe, such an army that will be able to respond in the sky, on water, on land, with drones in artificial intelligence, as well as in the event of a Russian offensive,' he said, adding that a foreign military presence does not necessarily mean troops stationed on Ukrainian soil but could include air defense systems and weapons to enhance security. All this depends on a peace deal, which is far from guaranteed. While the exact terms have yet to be announced, Trump administration officials painted some broad outlines last week. As we previously reported, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cast doubt on Ukraine's ability to reclaim the land lost since Russia first invaded in 2014. He also said membership in NATO was unlikely. Trump later concurred with both of those stances. In addition, Hegseth made it clear that while the Trump administration wants European and non-European troops to provide a security guarantee, those troops 'should be deployed as part of a non-NATO mission, and they should not be covered under Article Five [NATO charter of mutual aid]. There also must be robust international oversight of the line of contact to be clear as part of any security guarantee.' You can see Hegseth's comments in the following video. New US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Ukraine becoming a NATO member or regaining all its pre-2014 territory is not at a meeting of the military alliance in Brussels, Hegseth said Washington would not deploy troops to Ukraine under any peace deal. — DW Europe (@dw_europe) February 12, 2025 Zelensky, adamant that his country won't agree to any deal that does not directly involve Ukraine, has complained that he was not invited to Saudi Arabia even though Trump promised he would be part of any negotiations. Zelensky has also been reluctant to give up all of the roughly 20% of his nation in Russian hands. In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that not only will Russia not accept any deal that cedes territory it has gained, but Moscow wants the entirety of four regions it illegally annexed. All this is posturing ahead of the negotiations. While so many pieces have to fall into place for a peace deal to be realized, this is the closest there has been to an end to the bloodshed, at least temporarily, since Russia launched its full-on invasion nearly three years ago. Contact the author: howard@
