Lip reader Nicola Hickling told the Sun that the French president said: “He is incredibly tall.”
The monarch, who is thought to be 5ft 10, replied: “He is very tall. He’s six foot one, he is, ever so.” William then weighed in: “Actually, I’m six foot three.” The French president, who is around 5ft 7, quipped: “Unlike us, we’re short.”
Mr Macron and King Charles demonstrated the entente cordiale still remains strong between the UK and France as the French president began his state visit.
The two heads of state gave public displays of warmth and affection, with Mr Macron air kissing the hands of the Queen and Princess of Wales, while he put a comforting hand on the King’s back during his ceremonial welcome.
Charles kissed the hand of the president’s wife Brigitte Macron, affectionately pulling it up to his lips, and was seen in deep conversation with the French leader during a carriage ride through Windsor, part of the pomp and pageantry afforded the president.
Windsor Castle is the setting for the start of Mr Macron’s three-day state visit that has an important political backdrop, with the president and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer leading a Franco-British summit later this week that is likely to have action on Channel migrants top of the agenda.
The last French president to make a state visit to the UK was the now-disgraced Nicolas Sarkozy in March 2008 and Windsor has not hosted a visiting head since 2014, when Irish President Michael D Higgins travelled to the UK.
