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Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Charles blown kiss as he says bye to Macron after president's touching gesture
The French president has blown kisses at the King and Queen as he bid farewell to the monarch outside Windsor Castle, concluding the royals involvement in the three-day state visit with a flurry of goodbyes and well wishes French President Emmanuel Macron blew the King and Queen a kiss as he said an official farewell to them outside Windsor Castle. The President and his wife Brigitte showered the Royal family with thanks for their welcome to Windsor Castle, as he repeated the King's new phrase of "Entente Amicale" in celebration as they left. The King and President Macron shook hands, holding on for 28 seconds, as they said their goodbyes. Macron gripped Charles' upper arm tightly, patting him throughout a genial conversation in the Sovereign's Entrance of the castle. Mr Macron has raised eyebrows last night at the glittering State Banquet at Windsor Castle for winking at the Princess of Wales following a toast to mark the occasion. But the Queen and Mrs Macron were on the most tactile of terms as they each gave double kisses on the cheek and lent in closely for a final few words, appearing to make arrangements for a future encounter with Camilla's private secretary. President Macron also gave the Queen a kiss, holding her upper arm before the couples parted. In their final words, Macron repeated the King's phrase from last night's State Banquet to say "Entente Amicale!" to which the King threw up his hands in happy acknowledgement. The quartet had spent a final morning together at Windsor Castle before the Macrons travel to London for other engagements, including lunch in Downing Street with Sir Keir Starmer. The King and President took a tour of the castle gardens together, enjoying themselves so much that they kept the Queen and Mrs Macron waiting slightly. As is her habit, the Queen gave the King a pat on the bottom to hurry him along, in order to keep to the tightly-planned schedule. The President of France and his wife slept in a private apartment at the castle last night, and this morning began their day by laying flowers in St George's Chapel at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II. The King showed President Macron the Windsor Castle Gardens, including areas of work on nature restoration and biodiversity within the gardens and the wider Great Park. In the South garden, the King presented a 9ft tree-sapling of an oak tree from the Savill Garden Nursery, Windsor, which will be planted in the garden of the French Residence in London. The gift reciprocates the oak sapling given to the King by President Macron duringtheir State Visit to France in 2023, planted in the British Residence garden in Paris. While the men were in the garden, the Queen and Mrs Macron met outside Windsor Castle, with a view down the Long Walk, to view horses and a carriage brought from the Royal Mews. The Charabanc carriage was a gift to Queen Victoria by King Louis-Philippe of France in 1844, restored and now in regular use. The Queen and Mrs Macron were given a full tour, seeing a small exhibition of photographs relating to its history and told about the paint colour and Crown emblem. Queen Camilla was drawn to the horses, stroking their noses and talking to them. The women were shown Fabuleu de Maucour, a horse given by President Macron to Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, on the occasion of Her late Majesty's Platinum Jubilee. "Handsome boy," the Queen told him, remarking on his "beautiful" head gear. "He does a lot, does he?" she asked, and was told he was a "very good boy" who has "got a personality". She pronounced him "Fabulous Fabuleu", as she and Mrs Macron posed for a photograph in front of the cameras. The women, who had met at the agreed time of 10.20am, waited another ten minutes for the King and President, asking staff to find them in the nearby gardens. When they arrived, there were kissed greetings all around before the same tour of horse and carriage began again with Toby Browne, Crown Equerry. The King was fascinated by the historic photographs, lingering at the table talking before the Queen went to fetch him with a pat. The President stroked and scratched the horse's forehead confidently, seeming pleased to hear that he has settled into life in Windsor nicely. The horse has taken part in several Trooping the Colour events, and has been ridden by the Princess Royal privately. "He's a little bit nibbly," said stud groom Brandon Heaton, of the dappled grey gelding. "But a very good boy". Mrs Macron, wearing stiletto heels on the gravel, made conversation about the carriage, saying "d'accord" as she heard about its history. The King, Queen, President and Mrs Macron then walked back through the castle's Quadrangle for a long goodbye to key members of the Royal Household who told them it had been a "huge pleasure" to host. They stood side by side for a final photograph, the Queen and Mrs Macron politely insisting the other stood in the middle. The Macrons will now travel to London for a programme featuring a visit to Imperial College London and a banquet at the Guildhall tonight. The key event of the day will be lunch with the Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria at Number 10 Downing Street; intended as a cordial summit after the very public political speeches of yesterday. The King last night hailed the renewed relationship between Britain and France, saying what was known as the "Entente Cordiale" should now be upgraded to the "Entente Amicale". "Allow me to propose a toast to France and to our new Entente," he said. "An Entente not only past and present, but for the future - and no longer just cordiale, but now amicale." Finishing his own speech, Macron turned to the King to address him directly. "Now you have created the Entente Amicale," he said. "The Entente Amicale will be launched in Windsor in 2025 and we want to believe in this new era."


South Wales Guardian
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
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 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 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. 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. 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 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.

Leader Live
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
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 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 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. 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. 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 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.

Rhyl Journal
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
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 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 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. 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. 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 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.


North Wales Chronicle
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
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 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 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. 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. 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 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.