French president greeted by King Charles as state go to begins

[ad_1] Sean Coughlan Royal correspondent

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4f8f/live/5dd393e0-5be9-11f0-9584-0dcfb55e8671.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4f8f/live/5dd393e0-5be9-11f0-9584-0dcfb55e8671.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4f8f/live/5dd393e0-5be9-11f0-9584-0dcfb55e8671.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4f8f/live/5dd393e0-5be9-11f0-9584-0dcfb55e8671.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4f8f/live/5dd393e0-5be9-11f0-9584-0dcfb55e8671.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4f8f/live/5dd393e0-5be9-11f0-9584-0dcfb55e8671.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4f8f/live/5dd393e0-5be9-11f0-9584-0dcfb55e8671.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4f8f/live/5dd393e0-5be9-11f0-9584-0dcfb55e8671.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images France's President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron are greeted by Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photographs The French president and his spouse arrive at RAF Northolt and are greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales

Emmanuel Macron and his spouse Brigitte have been greeted by King Charles and Queen Camilla because the French president begins a three-day state go to to the UK.

The Macrons have been greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales as they arrived at RAF Northolt in west London on Tuesday, earlier than they met the King and Queen in Windsor city centre.

It's the first state go to by a French president since 2008, and the primary by a European Union political chief since Brexit.

A number of points are anticipated to be mentioned between Macron and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in the course of the go to, together with find out how to cease small boats crossing the Channel.

Downing Road has stated the UK's relationship with France is "key" to tackling this amongst different points.

"We anticipate to make good progress on a variety of priorities, together with migration, progress, defence and safety, which is able to ship on the pursuits of each the British and the French public," a spokesman for No 10 stated.

Macron and the King have been seen chatting enthusiastically as they travelled to Windsor Fortress in open-top carriages, accompanied by Family Cavalry.

Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron travelled in a separate carriage behind, adopted by the Prince William and Catherine.

Crowds got here lined the streets for an opportunity to glimpse the procession.

Later, King Charles and Macron carried out a ceremonial inspection of troops in pink tunics and bearskins within the quadrangle of Windsor Fortress, earlier than heading inside for lunch.

A state go to is a "mushy energy" alternative to strengthen partnerships, with the French go to set to bolster hyperlinks with the UK at a time of uncertainty concerning the US stance on points similar to navy backing for Ukraine.

A state banquet on Tuesday night will probably be a spotlight of the journey, with well-known faces, a showcase menu and a message from the King concerning the "shared historical past and tradition between our two peoples".

He'll say the UK and France should stand united within the face of a "multitude of complicated threats" and in addition warn of threats in defence, know-how and local weather change.

"For hundreds of years our residents have admired one another, amused one another, and imitated one another," the King will say at Tuesday night's banquet, which will probably be held at Windsor Fortress, as Buckingham Palace is being renovated.

He'll warn of present dangers "emanating from a number of instructions" and challenges that "know no borders" from which "no fortress can shield us".

"Our two nations share not solely values, but in addition the tireless dedication to behave on them on this planet," the state banquet speech will say.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/61e8/live/7f971210-5bc4-11f0-9b31-0de8e3acd144.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/61e8/live/7f971210-5bc4-11f0-9b31-0de8e3acd144.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/61e8/live/7f971210-5bc4-11f0-9b31-0de8e3acd144.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/61e8/live/7f971210-5bc4-11f0-9b31-0de8e3acd144.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/61e8/live/7f971210-5bc4-11f0-9b31-0de8e3acd144.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/61e8/live/7f971210-5bc4-11f0-9b31-0de8e3acd144.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/61e8/live/7f971210-5bc4-11f0-9b31-0de8e3acd144.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/61e8/live/7f971210-5bc4-11f0-9b31-0de8e3acd144.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="EPA Britain's Queen Camilla, Britain's King Charles III, France's President Emmanuel Macron and French President's wife Brigitte Macron attend the UK Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion's commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II 'D-Day' Allied landings in Normandy" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> EPA King Charles and Queen Camilla just lately met the French President and his spouse at commemorations marking the eightieth anniversary of D-Day in Normandy

Sylvie Bermann, who was the French Ambassador to the UK from 2014 to 2017, described the small boats difficulty as tough however stated that France was "making progress" on it.

Responding to criticism throughout the UK that the British authorities has given an excessive amount of cash to France to attempt to deter small boat crossings without seeing any results so far, Ms Bermann stated: "The UK is paying as a result of we [France] is doing the job for the UK... you'll be able to't forestall all of them [small boats] however we're doing our greatest."

Sir Keir Starmer and Macron are additionally anticipated to talk by cellphone to different allied nations who need to help any future peace deal in Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Macron will see a horse that he gave to the late Queen Elizabeth II, to mark her Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

The French president and his spouse are additionally set to go to the tomb of the late Queen, throughout their keep in Windsor.

The UK authorities has spoken of desirous to "re-set" post-Brexit relations with European neighbours and Macron's go to will probably be a public endorsement of the longstanding alliance with France.

MPs and friends will be capable of hear Macron when he provides a speech to the Homes of Parliament.

Advances in science will probably be highlighted in the course of the go to, with examples of synthetic intelligence and modern know-how being proven to the French guests at Imperial Faculty London.

King Charles and Queen Camilla carried out a state go to to France in 2023, the place he obtained a standing ovation for his speech to the French Senate .

He had given a strongly worded message of help for Ukraine after Russia's "horrifying" invasion. The King had additionally highlighted the "existential problem" of local weather change.

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