Sept. 6 (UPI) — King Charles III is set to embark on a state visit to France, accompanied by Queen Camilla. During their trip, they will engage in talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and deliver a highly anticipated address to the French parliament.
Charles will arrive in Paris on September 20th for a three-day stay, as confirmed by Buckingham Palace.
The visit comes after a six-month delay caused by violent protests in France spurred by pension reforms, which forced the king to cancel his trip in March.
Macron, who weathered severe public backlash following his signing of the controversial law in April, plans to honor the royal couple with a state banquet at the Palace of Versailles, where they will be greeted by renowned athletes participating in the Rugby World Cup and aspiring Olympians for the 2024 Olympics.
During the initial part of the visit, Macron will host Charles at a sustainability reception for British and French business leaders. The event will focus on ongoing investment plans to combat climate change.
In a separate event, Camilla and French First Lady Brigitte Macron will announce the launch of the Franco-British literary prize at the National Library of France.
Throughout the visit, Charles will partake in discussions covering climate, defense, trade, and immigration. However, the highlight of the trip will be his long-awaited speech before the French National Assembly, making him the first British monarch to address both houses of the French parliament.
In addition to Paris, the royal couple will travel over 300 miles to Bordeaux, which is Bristol’s sister city due to its significant British population. Charles intends to meet with emergency crews and community members affected by the devastating wildfires in 2022.
During their stay, the king will also engage with climate policy experts and military leaders from both Britain and France to receive updates on defense cooperation efforts.
The visit concludes on September 23rd when Charles and Camilla will visit an organic vineyard that utilizes clean energy to revolutionize the winemaking process.
The king’s trip is seen as an important step in improving relations between the two countries following the turmoil of Brexit. Diplomatic ties have remained strained since Britain formally withdrew from the European Union in 2020.
This state visit comes after a summit in March between Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which marked the first meeting between the strained allies since 2018.
In a statement announcing the trip, Chris Fitzgerald, Deputy Private Secretary to Charles, emphasized the commitment of both nations to their partnerships across various areas.
“The state visit will celebrate Britain’s relationship with France, highlighting our shared histories, culture, and values,” Fitzgerald said. “It will also demonstrate the numerous ways in which the UK and France are working together, whether it be promoting and protecting biodiversity, combating climate change, strengthening security and defense ties in response to the conflict in Ukraine, or recognizing outstanding cultural achievements.”
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