Windsor Castle was steeped in pomp and pageantry on Tuesday as King Charles III formally welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron for a highly symbolic three-day state visit — the first by a European leader to Britain since the country’s departure from the European Union.
Under a clear autumn sky, Charles and Queen Camilla greeted Macron and his wife, Brigitte, on the dais of Windsor’s Quadrangle, where the two leaders jointly inspected a ceremonial honor guard. The occasion marked more than just diplomatic protocol — it was a vivid display of renewed ties between two neighbors whose relationship had been strained in the wake of Brexit.
In a glittering banquet later that evening, held in Windsor’s historic St. George’s Hall, King Charles raised a toast that underscored the depth of the Anglo-French alliance. Speaking in a mix of English and French, the monarch reminded guests that the connection between the two nations “extends beyond friendship into family.”
“Our two countries face a multitude of more complex threats, emanating from multiple directions,” Charles said, stressing that London and Paris must stand united. “As friends and as allies, we face them together.”
The banquet itself was a reflection of that theme — with English sparkling wine crafted by a French champagne house and a menu featuring seasonal British produce alongside continental flair: summer vegetables, chicken with asparagus and cream, and a chilled blackcurrant parfait. Guests dined to music from Vivaldi, Debussy, Lewis Capaldi, Daft Punk, and Dua Lipa — a mix as diverse as the countries’ shared history.
Earlier in the day, the Macrons had been welcomed to Britain by the Prince and Princess of Wales at RAF Northolt before traveling to Windsor. There, they were treated to the full ceremonial welcome: a red-carpet reception, a carriage procession through the town’s streets, and a ride in the 1902 State Landau carriage with King Charles himself.
After the Windsor festivities, the French president traveled to London where he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior — a solemn tribute to the fallen of World War I — before addressing British lawmakers in the Palace of Westminster.
Standing in the grand Royal Gallery, Macron praised the centuries-long bond between France and Britain, remarking with a smile that “the French love monarchy — especially when it is not at home.” He called on the UK and France to continue working together on pressing global issues, from Russia’s war in Ukraine to migration, climate change, and trade.
In a particularly notable moment, Macron reiterated France’s support for the recognition of a Palestinian state, calling a two-state solution “the only way to build peace and stability for all in the region.”
The French leader’s visit follows Charles and Camilla’s own state trip to France in September 2023 and is seen as a deliberate effort by both governments to reset relations after years of Brexit-related tension. In the coming days, Macron is scheduled to hold talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, focusing on defense, security cooperation, and curbing illegal migration across the English Channel.
The two leaders will also participate in a UK–France Summit at Downing Street, with a strong emphasis on strengthening support for Ukraine through the “Coalition of the Willing” initiative launched earlier this year. They are expected to visit a military base in northwest London and dial into a meeting of allied nations to coordinate further assistance.
Both Charles and Macron are navigating difficult domestic landscapes, with slipping approval ratings and mounting political pressures at home. For both men, this state visit offers a rare opportunity to demonstrate unity and leadership on the international stage — and perhaps to remind their citizens that even in turbulent times, the “entente cordiale” still holds meaning.
While observers are not expecting major breakthroughs or sweeping new agreements, even modest announcements could signal that the UK–France relationship is once again on firmer footing.