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. Mr Macron was also seen to inspect his gift to the late Queen, alongside the Charabanc carriage, which was gifted to Queen Victoria by King Louis-Philippe of France in 1844.
Charles was seen to bid a fond farewell to Mrs Macron, kissing her on the hand and the cheek before giving the presidential couple 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 also 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 – with the UK expected to provide extra funding for tougher enforcement along French coastlines.
French President Emmanuel Macron and King Charles III in the South Garden of Windsor Castle on Wednesday morning, opening day two of the French state visit to Britain
Queen Camilla and King Charles greeted the French President and his wife Brigitte Macron warmly after an eloquent State banquet at the castle last night
Mr Macron, King Charles, Mrs Macron and Queen Camilla stroll through the grounds of Windsor Castle accompanied by aides
The President and the First Lady of France was invited to meet Fabuleu de Maucour, a horse gifted by Mr Macron to Queen Elizabeth II to mark her Platinum Jubilee
Mr Macron was also seen to inspect the horse, which had been a standard bearer in the French Republican Guard
The King showed Mr Macron around the sun-dappled South Gardens – ahead of talks between the French President and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
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.
Later, the PM and the French President are expected to attend a reception with French and UK businesses at the British Museum.
The First Lady and Sir Keir’s wife Lady Victoria Starmer are expected to have tea and tour Downing Street.
This week’s state visit has already seen its fair share of pomp and pageantry, with the King hailing 1,000 years of ‘shared history’ between Britain and France at last night’s State Banquet, which counted Elton John and Mick Jagger among its guests.
The King alluded to both nations sharing challenges that ‘know no borders’ in a charming and wide-ranging speech at the dinner, which was peppered with French.
Royal sources have been keen to stress that his remarks were not intended to be interpreted as an allusion to the two countries’ ongoing struggle to curtain the small boats crisis in the Channel – but instead a ‘multitude’ of shared concerns.
These include climate change, defence, technology and the nations’ ongoing support of Ukraine as it continues to fight back against Russia’s invasion.
‘The answer (to these challenges) lies in partnership, and we – France and Britain – must help to lead the way,’ the King said.
‘Allow me to propose a toast to France and to our new Entente. An Entente not only past and present, but for the future – and no longer just cordiale, but now amicable.’
The King bade a fond farewell to the First Lady following the morning meeting, kissing her hand
He also kissed her cheek as they returned to the entrance of Windsor Castle to part ways
Emmanuel Macron is seen bidding farewell to Queen Camilla following the morning visit to the grounds of Windsor Castle
The King, Mr Macron, Mrs Macron and the Queen pose for a photograph before they part ways
King Charles III and Queen Camilla formally bid farewell to the President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron at Windsor Castle
King Charles III and Emmanuel Macron view the Charabanc carriage, which was gifted to Queen Victoria by King Louis-Philippe of France in 1844
Earlier, Mr Macron had told Parliament that France would finally adopt a ‘firm’ approach to the small boats crisis, but stressed that Britain had a role to play in making itself less lucrative to criminal smuggling gangs exploiting desperate migrants.
It was ‘legitimate’, he said, for migrants to ‘hope for a better life elsewhere’ – but said the two countries ‘cannot allow’ rules to be flouted and criminal networks to cynically exploit the hopes of so many individuals with ‘so little respect for human life’.
Yesterday also saw Sir Keir and Mr Macron lay wreaths in recognition of Britain and France’s long and storied history – and newly strengthened bilateral ties.
Wreaths were laid at the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square and at the statue of Charles de Gaulle in Calton Gardens – close to where the general set up his government in exile during World War II.
Mr and Mrs Macron were also invited to lay a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior within Westminster Abbey. The Grave contains the body of a British soldier found in France in 1920 and contains French soil.
With talks looming today, Sir Keir Starmer hopes to strike a ‘one in, one out’ deal to send small boat migrants back to the continent in exchange for accepting asylum seekers in Europe who have a connection to Britain such as family.
Ministers believe the plan could help act as a deterrent, although they acknowledge the scale could be very small initially.
But critics have branded the idea a ‘migrant merry-go-round’, while the EU commission has intervened to raise concerns that it could cause problems for other member states.
Elysee Palace sources have been keen to stress that France does not blame the UK for the crisis. Instead, they say, the French President is looking forward to working with the PM ‘constructively on this shared priority’.
