French President Emmanuel Macron and Madame Macron on their first state visit to the United Kingdom. This landmark diplomatic gathering will take place July 8-10. The royal newlyweds are expected to spend their first days together at Windsor Castle in Berkshire. This will be the case on this historic visit, which will be France’s first state visit since March 2008.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will receive their visiting dignitaries, an indication of their close connection with the Macrons. The UK’s new royal couple on their first state visit together to France in 2023, King Charles underlining the need for a strong UK-France relationship. In that visit, he declared, “Let us, then, be up and doing and tender for one another, our illustrious and indispensable entente cordiale. So let’s renew it, for the benefit of future generations. I suggest that rather than an entente sur la durabilite, we make it into an entente pour la durabilite to address the international climate and biodiversity emergency in a much deeper way.
The visit will feature a full state banquet at Windsor Castle — the full panoply of royal hospitality. With Buckingham Palace undergoing extensive refurbishments, Windsor Castle was selected as the venue for this great and noble occasion. The last state visit from France occurred in 2007, with then-President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni. As part of the occasion, they were feted as guests of the late Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor.
The Macron’s state visit comes just ahead of former President Donald Trump’s anticipated invitation to meet with King Charles in September. This scheduling beautifully illustrates the high value placed on the continuing UK diplomatic efforts with numerous and strategically important global leaders.
During their state visit to France in 2023, King Charles and Queen Camilla participated in a series of truly extraordinary events. They joined French President Francois Hollande for commemorative ceremonies at the Arc de Triomphe and a lavish state dinner at the Palace of Versailles. King Charles expressed his commitment to strengthening the indispensable relationship between the UK and France, stating, “As neighbours, friends, partners and allies, there is no challenge to which we cannot rise, as we have done so often in the past. Let us stride forward with hope and courage – and let us do so together.”
The Macrons’ visit will undoubtedly serve to further cement the close ties that have long linked the two countries and to honor their shared history. As preparations are underway for this momentous occasion, both leaders are expected to engage in discussions that emphasize collaboration on global issues and reaffirm their commitment to bilateral relations.
