Blitz Bureau
FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron will visit the UK for a State visit in July, Buckingham Palace has announced.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will host the President and his wife Brigitte Macron at Windsor Castle on a visit from July 8 to 10. The King and Queen had paid a state visit to France in September 2023, which was seen as a diplomatic success in helping to rebuild relations after Brexit.
King Charles received a standing ovation from the French Senate, after a speech in which he spoke strongly in support of Ukraine, after the “horrifying” invasion by Russia Such visits are a “soft power” opportunity to strengthen trade, cultural and defence ties, in this case with an important European partner, adds BBC.
The state visit will be hosted in Windsor Castle as building work is being carried out at Buckingham Palace. The forthcoming visit by Macron will be seen as a further effort to reinforce links with a European ally, against a background of uncertainty about negotiations over Ukraine and the threat of tariffs from the United States. Overseas heads of state are invited to visit the King on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The announcement of a French state visit suggests that the King is keeping up a full schedule, as he continues to receive treatment for cancer. In a diplomatic balancing act, there is also an invitation for President Trump to make a second state visit to the UK, with President Trump recently suggesting that a visit could take place in September.
