Latest news with #stateVisit


The Independent
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Charles bids farewell to President Macron during touching goodbye
The King and President Emmanuel Macron enjoyed a long goodbye as the two men bid farewell after a successful start to the French leader's state visit. In a sign of their friendship, Charles and the French leader clasped hands for 28 seconds as they parted company at Windsor Castle when the first element of the three-day trip came to an end. The King and president talked during the handshake which became more poignant when Mr Macron held Charles' hand with both of his for the last few moments. Earlier the president and his wife had spent a private period laying flowers at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II who was laid to rest at the King George VI Memorial Chapel within the castle's St George's Chapel. At the Windsor Castle state banquet held in Mr Macron's honour on Tuesday night the French leader had paid tribute to the late Queen, saying: 'To you she was your Queen, to us she was the Queen.' The last words spoken between the King and his guest was their re-branding of the famous entente cordiale to the 'entente amicale' spoken by Charles with Mr Macron replying 'thank you, so much'. They had been joined by Queen Camilla and Mrs Macron who exchanged goodbye kisses with the men and the foursome posed for a picture before they parted company.


Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
King Charles and Queen Camilla take the Macrons on a tour of Windsor Castle before the French President and First Lady head to London for lunch with Keir Starmer oes here
King Charles and Queen Camilla have taken the reins on the second day of Emmanuel Macron 's state visit to Britain - touring the grounds of Windsor Castle and visiting a horse gifted to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The King and Queen were seen warmly greeting Mr Macron and First Lady Brigitte on a sunny Wednesday morning in the grounds of the castle after a dazzling state banquet last night. As the King and Mr Macron strolled through the South Garden of the centuries-old Royal residence, Mrs Macron was accompanied by the Queen as she visited grey gelding Fabuleu de Maucour. The horse, previously a standard-bearer for France 's Republican Guard, was gifted to Queen Elizabeth II to mark her Platinum Jubilee in 2022, and was hailed by diplomats as 'epitomising French horse-breeding'. It had been gifted to her in recognition of her love of horses and horse-riding. Charles was seen to bid a fond farewell to Mrs Macron, kissing her on the hand before giving them both a cheery wave as he and Camilla headed back into the castle. Following the morning stroll, the French President and First Lady will dine with the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer this afternoon. Mr Macron and Mr Starmer are then expected to hold crunch talks on solving the migrant crisis amid record levels of small boats making the treacherous journey across the English Channel from France. For the morning wander, The King wore a light grey pinstriped suit with a blue tie, patterned with Greek flags. The Queen was dressed in a Liberty London dress adorned with an animal pattern inspired by the works of British children's illustrator Brian Wildsmith. Mr Macron opted for a dark suit while Mrs Macron opted for a double-breasted off-white jacket with matching pencil skirt.


Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Hidden meanings in the royals' outfits as they welcome the Macrons - including King Charles's not-so-subtle message of love amid Emmanuel and Brigitte's 'frosty' appearance
The royal family was out in force today to greet France's President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron at the start of their state visit - and diplomatic dressing was clearly on the agenda. The Macrons landed at RAF Northolt in London earlier today and were met on the tarmac by the Prince and Princess of Wales.


Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
Macron state visit: King and Queen welcome French president — watch live
President Macron and his wife Brigitte have arrived at Westminster Abbey as part of their state visit to the UK. The pair were flanked by security guards as they were met at the entrance gates by representatives from the Anglican church. The French president is viewing the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, whose body was brought from France to be buried at the Abbey in 1920. Macron laid a wreath next to the tomb and a prayer was read out remembering all those who have given their lives for their country in wars. After enjoying a private lunch in the castle's state dining room, the King and Queen escorted their guests into the green drawing room of Windsor Castle. Among the items laid out for President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, was a bottle of Louis XIII Cognac in a Baccarat Crystal decanter, as served to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth during the July 1938 state visit, and later to Queen Elizabeth II in April 1957. The King was heard joking that his guests should have a glass of the vintage Cognac. The French couple were also shown a 1632 second folio of 36 Shakespeare plays, complete with notes in the margin written by Charles I. Brigitte Macron was seen delighting over miniature books that were a part of Queen Mary's doll's house. Sir Keir Starmer will urge President Macron to agree a 'one in, one out' migrant returns deal on Tuesday, despite warnings that announcing it before it is ready will lead to a surge in crossings. The prime minister is pressing for the deal as the centrepiece of a new agreement between Britain and France that the two leaders will sign at an Anglo-French summit on Thursday. The arrangement would allow Britain to return small boat migrants to France in exchange for accepting asylum seekers with a family connection in the UK. However, British and French officials are yet to finalise the details as the French president's three-day state visit begins on Tuesday. • Read in full: Keir Starmer to push Macron for last-minute migrant return deal Amid the pomp and ceremony surrounding Emmanuel Macron's three-day state visit to the UK there is business to be done. Sir Keir Starmer will be hoping to use the event to make significant progress in three broad areas — illegal migration, nuclear power and defence. This one appears likely to go down to the wire. Starmer is attempting to secure a 'one in, one out' deal with France that would allow the UK to send migrants who cross the English Channel on small boats back to France. One of the centrepieces of Macron's visit is the Sizewell C plant in Suffolk, only the second new nuclear power station to be built in a generation in the UK. EDF, the French-owned state energy company, owns a 15 per cent stake in the project. • Read in full: Macron's visit could shape key areas of UK policy The King appeared to be suffering from a bloodshot eye as he met President Macron. The Times understands it is a burst blood vessel which is not said to be connected to any health conditions. With President Trump's America straining at the leash of the transatlantic alliance and President Putin's revanchism threatening eastern Europe, the two nations of the entente cordiale have rarely needed each other more, certainly not since the conclusion of the Second World War. They lead Europe's two indispensable, nuclear-armed militaries. But when Macron and Sir Keir Starmer chair the 37th Franco-British summit this week, it will be an encounter between floundering leaders of floundering countries whose relations have been routinely prickly, not least when they were pledging undying friendship. • Read in full: Discontent cordiale: why Britain and France need each other more than ever In his speech at the banquet on Tuesday evening, the King will say that today's challenges 'know no borders' and that 'no fortress' can protect a country as it did in the past. He is also expected to reflect on 1,000 years of 'shared history and culture between our two peoples'. Charles will add: 'Our two countries face a multitude of complex threats, emanating from multiple directions. As friends and allies, we face them together.' The King will say that the UK and France can confronting joint challenges because 'our two nations share not only values but also the tireless determination to act on them in the world'. The three couples — the King and Queen, the Princess and Prince of Wales and the Macrons — stood side by side for the national anthems of France and the UK. They then spent a few minutes greeting a line-up of dignitaries before splitting into carriages to ride through Windsor. The King and President Macron sat together in the first carriage, the 1902 State Landau, immediately seen deep in conversation. The Queen and Mrs Macron followed in the Semi-State Landau behind, looking around them as cheers could be heard in the distance and beginning to wave at those assembling at the side of the road. The Prince and Princess of Wales sat together in a third carriage, an Ascot Landau, with France's armed forces minister, Sebastien Lecornu, and the French culture minister, Rachida Dati. The King was wearing a new button on his lapel, which is the 'boutonnière' of the legion d'honneur, France's highest honour. It was awarded to Charles in 1985. The Macrons received the warmest and most tactile of welcomes from the royal family, who swapped kisses and affectionate pats on the arm as they greeted one another on the royal dais in Windsor. The King kissed Brigitte Macron on the hand, while President Macron kissed the Queen's hand. At one point Camilla appeared to imitate riding a horse, which made Mrs Macron laugh. Camilla kissed her step son Prince William and his wife the Princess of Wales on the cheek. The King and Queen have arrived at a dias on Datchet Road, Windsor, where they await the arrival of President Macron and his wife Brigitte. In between the ceremonial welcome, lunch with the royal family and the banquet at Windsor Castle, there is government business for President Macron in Westminster, where the president will address MPs and peers in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords. • Macron's state visit: Border, energy and security deals on the table Macron's visit will culminate in a UK-France summit during which he and Sir Keir Starmer hope to reach an agreement on migrant Channel crossings. A royal salute will be fired by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn at the Windsor Great Park while another will be fired simultaneously at the Tower of London. Arriving at the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle, the French president, accompanied by the King, will inspect a guard of honour. On Tuesday evening, a state banquet will be held in their honour at Windsor Castle. The Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived at RAF Northolt to welcome President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte. Kate was wearing an outfit from French fashion house Christian Dior and a hat by Jess Collett. Her earrings belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales, and the pearl necklace was from the late Queen's collection. The Christian Dior jacket is the 30 Montaigne Rose Des Vents Bar Jacket and a piece from the 2024 collection. It was reimagined by Maria Grazia Chiuri, who was inspired by the original first created in 1947 by Christian Dior himself. President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, have arrived in the UK for the first French state visit since 2008 and the first by the head of a European Union country since Brexit. At the start of the three-day tour, the Macrons were greeted at RAF Northolt by the Prince and Princess of Wales. They will travel to Windsor where they will join the King and Queen for a carriage procession through the streets.


France 24
08-07-2025
- Business
- France 24
France's Macron kicks off 'historic' UK state visit
Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, hailed an "important moment for our two nations" after landing and heading straight for Windsor, west of London, to meet the British monarch. "Together, we will address the major challenges of our time: security, defence, nuclear energy, space, innovation, artificial intelligence, migration, and culture," he posted on X. The French leader added that Paris and London were seeking to "deepen our cooperation in a concrete, effective, and lasting way". The first state visit by an EU head of state since the UK's acrimonious 2020 departure from the European Union, it is also the first by a French president since Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008. During his visit, Macron will hold several meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. After taking power in 2024, the British leader has been making good on his pledge to reset relations with European capitals following years of Brexit-fuelled tensions. Their discussions are expected to focus on aid to war-torn Ukraine and bolstering defence spending, as well as joint efforts to stop migrants from crossing the Channel in small boats -- a potent political issue in Britain. Calling the visit "historic", Starmer's office said it would showcase "the breadth of the existing relationship" between Britain and France. Windsor pomp Macron and his wife Brigitte were greeted off the presidential plane Tuesday at an air base northwest of London by heir-to-the-throne Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales. In a stylistic nod to her guests, the princess wore a Christian Dior jacket. A short time later Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, warmly welcomed the entourage to Windsor, amid a full display of British pomp and pageantry. The Francophile king, who is believed to enjoy a warm rapport with Macron, could be seen chatting with him enthusiastically during their early interactions. Charles made a 2023 state visit to France, one of his first after ascending the throne and widely regarded as a success. After a 41-gun salute sounded from nearby Home Park and a royal carriage procession through the town, which was decked out in French Tricolores and British Union flags, the group entered the castle for lunch. They will return there later for a state banquet in the vast medieval St George's Hall, when in a speech Charles is set to laud the vital partnership between France and the UK amid a "multitude of complex threats". "As friends and as allies, we face them together," he will say, according to Buckingham Palace. Before that, Macron will follow in the footsteps of predecessors Charles de Gaulle and Francois Mitterrand by addressing lawmakers in the UK parliament. The visit also aims to boost trade and business ties, with Paris and London announcing Tuesday that French energy giant EDF will have a 12.5-stake in new British nuclear power plant Sizewell C. 'Support for Ukraine' On Wednesday, Macron will have lunch with Starmer and the two leaders will on Thursday co-host the 37th Franco-British Summit, where they are set to discuss opportunities to strengthen defence ties. Britain and France are spearheading talks amongst a 30-nation coalition on how to support a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, including potentially deploying peacekeeping forces. The two leaders will dial in to a meeting of the coalition on Thursday "to discuss stepping up support for Ukraine and further increasing pressure on Russia", Starmer's office confirmed on Monday. They will speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, according to the French presidency. Irregular migration is also set to feature in talks between Macron and Starmer. The British leader is under intense pressure to curb cross-Channel arrivals, as Eurosceptic Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK party uses the issue to fuel its rise. Meanwhile, speculation is rife that Macron will use the visit to announce an update on his previous offer to loan the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain. It emerged in 2018 that he had agreed to loan the embroidery, which depicts the 1066 Norman conquest of England, but the move has since stalled. The UK government said Monday that it continued to "work closely with our counterparts in France on its planned loan".