After the huge success of the first day of the French State Visit, the three-day trip continued today as the King and President Macron walked around the grounds of Windsor Castle. President Macron was shown areas of natural restoration and biodiversity within the vast gardens that extend into the Great Park.
After his tour of the famous castle, the monarch and the President were joined by Queen Camilla and the French First Lady to view a Charabanc carriage from the Royal Mews. They also had the rare opportunity to see a horse given by President Macron to Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
Earlier in the morning, the Presidential couple privately visited St George’s Chapel, Windsor, to lay flowers on the late Queen’s tomb.
The horse, which is named Fabuleu de Maucour, was given to the late Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. Meanwhile, the carriage also bore huge significance as it was gifted to Queen Victoria by King Louis-Philippe of France in 1844.
Later on today, the President and the First Lady will say goodbye to their royal hosts and visit Imperial College London and have lunch with the Prime Minister and Lady Starmer at No.10 Downing Street.
This will be followed by a banquet at the Guildhall, where they will be joined by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
The second day of the State Visit comes after the huge success of the State Banquet, which was held in St George’s Hall of Windsor Castle on Tuesday evening. As he stood up to thank the President for travelling to the UK, the King introduced the new ‘Entente Amicable’ to celebrate France as “one of our strongest allies”.
Discussing the “multitude of complex threats”, he said that “as friends and as allies, we face them together”. “My firm belief is that friendship between Britain and France is vital if the liberties and peace of Europe are to be preserved,” he said.
And as he wrapped up his speech to guests dressed in white-tie and tiaras the King introduced a new Entente to rapturous applause. “An Entente not only past and present, but for the future – and no longer just cordiale, but now amicable”.
