Royal Pomp and Diplomacy: A Landmark Franco-British Summit
From July 8 to 10, 2025, King Charles III and Queen Camilla welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, for a spectacular state visit, the first by a French leader since 2008 and the first by an EU head of state since Brexit. Hosted at Windsor Castle due to Buckingham Palace renovations, the three-day event blended royal grandeur with high-stakes diplomacy, reinforcing the deep ties between the UK and France.
Courtesy of the the Royal Family Channel on You Tube
The visit began with a warm greeting from the Prince and Princess of Wales at RAF Northolt, where Catherine, wearing a light pink Dior suit, marked a significant return to public duties post-cancer treatment. The group proceeded to Windsor, where King Charles and President Macron rode in the 1902 State Landau along the Long Walk, cheered by crowds. A ceremonial welcome in the castle’s quadrangle featured a Guard of Honour by the Grenadier and Scots Guards, with the band playing “La Marseillaise” and “God Save the King.”
A highlight was the King’s personal touch, guiding the Macrons through a Royal Collection display featuring a historic champagne glass gifted to King George V in 1935. The French president laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, symbolizing shared wartime sacrifices, before delivering a powerful address to Parliament in the Royal Gallery. Macron urged stronger UK-France cooperation on migration, Ukraine, and global challenges, earning a standing ovation.
The first day culminated in a state banquet in St George’s Hall, attended by 160 guests, including Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Elton John, and Dame Kristin Scott-Thomas. The menu, curated with French chef Raymond Blanc, featured Rhug Estate chicken and iced blackcurrant parfait, paired with a cocktail named “L’Entente” blending British gin and French pastis. King Charles, speaking in English and French, hailed the “entente amicale,” while the Princess of Wales, wearing the King’s Family Order, sat beside Macron.
On July 9, the King and Queen showed the Macrons Fabuleu de Maucour, a horse gifted by Macron to Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and a Charabanc carriage from 1844, symbolizing centuries of Franco-British ties. Meanwhile, Macron joined Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street to discuss migration and defense, followed by an AI summit at Imperial College London. The visit concluded on July 10 with a UK-France Summit, announcing a “reboot” of defense ties, including missile development and nuclear cooperation, alongside plans to address Channel crossings and support Ukraine.
This landmark visit, reciprocating the King’s 2023 trip to France, showcased the Royal Family’s role in fostering unity and diplomacy, cementing the UK-France alliance for a new era.
