CNN World News Actuality Presented By Claire Evren – French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, welcomed Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla, in France for a three-day state visit

Paris CNN World News Actuality Presented By Claire Evren – Profile of The Week Britain’s King Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla

President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, welcomed Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla, in France for a three-day state visit.

The first day of the trip, was all about symbolism and pomp, featuring a highly formal ceremonial welcome at Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, a procession down the famed Champs-Elysee and talks at the presidential palace.

King Charles and French President Emmanuel Macron began the state visit with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

They then drove down the Champs-Elysees avenue in a French DS car, waving at the thin crowds that had gathered along the tree-lined boulevard. At one point, Charles and Emmanuel Macron stood up through the open roof of the car to wave.

King Charles delivered historic speech to French Senate hailing ‘indispensable’ relationship between UK and France. He was been greeted at the Palais du Luxembourg by the Senate president Gérard Larcher. He became the first British monarch to make a speech from France’s senate chamber on Thursday, praising the “indispensable relationship” between the UK and its neighbor which he said was “as firm as it has ever been.”

King Charles III was given an enthusiastic welcome to the chamber – receiving a standing ovation from parliamentarians as he entered. When his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, visited in 2004, she made her speech from the adjoining Salle des Conferences.
Charles vowed that “for the time that is granted to me as King” he would seek to strengthen UK-French ties, adding that “together, our potential is limitless.”

The King – whose speech came 231 years to the day since France abolished its own monarchy and established a republic – spoke of being “flattered” to have been invited to speak by the two presidents of the two houses that make up France’s parliament.

During his address, he saved some of his strongest words to rebuke Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while also urging further action to tackle the climate crisis.
“Now, more than 80 years since we fought, side by side, for the liberation of Europe, we once again face unprovoked aggression on our continent,” Charles told lawmakers at the Palais du Luxembourg, where the French Senate is located.

“Our alliance and our resolve are as important as ever. Together, we stand in resolute solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Together, we are steadfast in our determination Ukraine will triumph, and that our cherished freedoms will prevail.”

He continued: “These horrifying events have once more demonstrated the fragility of so much that we hold dear. Just as we stand together against military aggression, so must we strive together to protect the world from our most existential challenge of all – that of global warming, climate change and the catastrophic destruction of nature.”

Queen Camilla was at the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, the national library, where she and the French president’s wife, Brigitte Macron, were launching a new Franco-British literary prize.

Camilla apologized for her “slightly rusty French” but said it was a “huge pleasure” to jointly launch the Prix de l’Entente Litteraire.

She added that she and the French first lady shared a “deep love of literature and a passion to promote literacy.” She said both had seen firsthand how books can change lives and “bring us joy, comfort, companionship, laughter and tears, opening our eyes to others’ experiences and reminding us that we are not alone.”

Charles and Camilla then reunited in Saint-Denis, in Paris’ northern suburbs, where they rubbed shoulders with top athletes and met community sports groups at an event highlighting the advantages of sport for young people.

Their next stop was a flower market in central Paris named after Queen Elizabeth II, before heading to Notre Dame cathedral, where restoration work following a devastating fire in 2019 is due for completion next year. They rounded out the day with a reception on sustainability at the Natural History Museum.

Wednesday, the first day of the trip, was all about symbolism and pomp, featuring a highly formal ceremonial welcome at Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, a procession down the famed Champs-Elysee and talks at the presidential palace.

Later, Macron posted a video of the two leaders walking between the Elysee palace and the nearby UK ambassador’s residence on X, formerly known as Twitter. In the short clip, the two greeted crowds of well-wishers lining the streets amid shouts of “vive le Roi” – or “long live the King.”

That evening, Charles and Camilla were guests of honor at an extravagant state banquet at the Palace of Versailles on the outskirts of the capital.

Up to 180 guests dined in the gilded Hall of Mirrors at the former royal residence, built by French King Louis XIV, enjoying a menu featuring blue lobster and crab cakes and Bresse chicken marinated in champagne with a cep mushroom gratin.