King Charles and Queen Camilla are on their way to Bordeaux to tour a vineyard, visit a Royal Navy frigate and meet British entrepreneurs on last day of their French state visit
The King and Queen are to meet Britons running businesses in south-western France before touring one of the region’s famous vineyards on the final day of their state visit.
Charles and Camilla will fly from Paris to Bordeaux, a change from their original plans amid French media leaks, before being welcomed in a town hall.
They will join a reception on a Royal Navy frigate and ride a tram to the main square to meet British and French business owners on Friday.
The royal couple pose on the steps of the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris during their three-day state visit to France (pictured L-R: Queen Camilla, King Charles, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron)
Queen Camilla (pictured, centre) smiled as the French president (pictured, left) greeted her with a kiss on the hand
Meanwhile, the two men – Emmanuel Macron (pictured, left) and King Charles (pictured, right) shook hands
The king (pictured here with Emmanuel Macron) was supposed to visit France six months ago, but the visit was postponed due to rioting
King Charles is snapped exiting the car as he arrives at the Elysee Palace in Paris to meet with the Macrons
Charles is to hear about the effects of climate change on forest fires, while Camilla will meet a local charity supporting disadvantaged people.
The couple’s visit will end with a tour of a sustainable vineyard.
Bordeaux, famous for its wine, is home to around 39,000 Britons and is twinned with Bristol.
Last night King Charles and Queen Camilla popped back to the Élysée Palace where they said goodbye to Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron ahead of their departure to Bordeaux.
Charles, 74, was supposed to make the visit six months ago, but rioting and strikes forced the last-minute postponement of his first state visit as monarch.
As Charles and Camilla, 76, posed for photos at the Palace while saying goodbye to the French president and first lady, the quartet smiled.
Queen Camilla looked chic during the engagement, wearing a midi length frock in a green and black animal-style print.
She paired the dress with simple accessories, black heeled pumps, and a stylish black handbag.
The queen’s pale blonde hair was styled into its trademark soft waves, and she opted for a simple, fresh make-up look, pairing a fresh base and light eye look with a nude lip.
Meanwhile, her husband, the king, was equally dapper, opting for a two-piece suit, with a single breasted blazer, in blue pin stripe.
The meeting capped a couple of very busy days for the royals so far.
Among their engagements on the trip Charles and Camilla attended a banquet dinner in Paris.
Then Queen Camilla showed off her competitive side, after challenging the French president’s wife to a game of table tennis.
Her Majesty picked up the paddle while visiting a community centre in Paris as King Charles met sports stars including former Chelsea footballer Didier Drogba and French rugby player Demba Bamba.
This is the second day of the couple’s state visit to France, which is hosting the Rugby World Cup.
The king (pictured, left) beamed during his meeting with the French president (pictured, right) last night
The quarter smiled as they posed for snaps on the steps of the palace (pictured L-R: Queen Camilla, King Charles, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron)
The queen looked stylish for the engagement, donning a midi length dress with animal-style print and pairing it with black accessories
The King laughed as his wife practised hitting the table tennis ball, before the Queen bravely challenged Brigitte Macron to a game.
President Emmanuel Macron’s wife, 70, appeared to get the better of Camilla, 76, as they played for a few minutes in a well-spirited match.
The Queen hit the ball into the net several times and joked with Mme Macron about the game.
King Charles chatted with Bamba and Welsh rugby player Dan Biggar, who said the royal visit has given France a lift.
Bamba said: ‘Everyone in France is enjoying the World Cup at the minute so it’s great to have this visit now.’
France’s First Lady (pictured, left) is photographed appearing as though she is in deep conversation with the queen (pictured, right)
President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron are seen as they welcome the royals to the palace
The French President (pictured) is snapped greeting Queen Camilla (pictured, left) and King Charles (pictured, right)
Camilla and Mme Macron then joined a group of children in an inflatable boxing ring, where the Queen hugged a few of them, before they all posed for a picture.
The Queen encouraged the children to ‘say cheese’, before adding cheekily ‘fromage’.
King Charles made history yesterday by becoming the first British monarch to address the French Senate – and used his speech to declare global warming as ‘our most existential challenge’ – just hours after Rishi Sunak put the brakes on Net Zero.
The monarch spoke of the close friendship between the UK and France but focused on tackling climate change, calling for a new ‘entente cordiale’ specifically to ‘tackle the global climate and biodiversity emergency’.
Speaking in perfect French, Charles suggested France and Britain needed the same unity shown in the World Wars and now Ukraine to ‘stand together’ on the environment, shortly after the PM warned that imposing ‘unacceptable costs’ and ‘heavy-handed’ proposals on families risked wrecking support for saving the planet.
Charles, who has spent decades campaigning on green issues, said: ‘The challenge facing our planet is both great and grave. 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.
‘Let us, therefore, cherish and nurture our entente cordiale. Let us renew it for future generations so that, I would like to propose, it also becomes an entente pour la durabilite (agreement for sustainability) – in order to tackle the global climate and biodiversity emergency more effectively. Let us stride forward with hope and courage and do so together’.
Charles spoke out as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak went on the attack over his plans to delay a raft of flagship environmental changes, insisting he ‘passionately’ believes in hitting the 2050 Net Zero target but believes he can do it without lumbering Britons with bills of up to £15,000 to hit green targets.
He also decided on five-year delay to the ban on petrol and diesel car sales, from 2030 to 2035, bringing Britain into line with its nearest neighbour France and the rest of the EU.
Charles addresses Senators and members of the National Assembly at the French Senate, the first time a member of the British Royal Family has spoken there, and made a strong statement on climate change
Charles is calling for a new ‘entente cordiale’ specifically to ‘tackle the global climate and biodiversity emergency’
The French Senate gave a standing ovation of almost two minutes
King Charles used his speech to declare global warming as ‘our most existential challenge’
Charles spoke for 18 minutes, mainly in French
Britain’s King Charles is applauded by members of parliament after he delivered his speech
French Senators and members of the National Assembly greet Britain’s King Charles (C) with a standing ovation at the French Senate
Brigitte Macron (L) and Queen Camilla (C) laugh as they speak with a staff member ahead of the launch of a new UK – France Literary Prize
The King is on day two of his state visit to France, which has proved a huge success. There were cries of ‘Vive le roi!’ – French for long live the king – on the streets of Paris yesterday, and the French Senate gave a standing ovation of almost two minutes.
READ MORE: The best of friends! Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron get the giggles at the French National Library
Brigitte Macron and Queen Camilla appeared to get the giggles when they posed for photos at the French National Library this morning
Speaking in Paris, the King spoke about his love for France and pledges to strengthen ‘indispensable’ France-UK relationship, including on climate change.
He said he was ‘moved’ to be speaking to the Senate and ‘touched’ by the welcome he had received on his 35th official visit to the country – but his first as King.
‘Quite simply the United Kingdom will always be one of France’s closest friends and allies’, he said.
He also spoke about his mother’s love of France – and President Macron’s tribute to her as the ‘golden thread’ binding France and Britain.
‘My mother died almost one year ago today. My family were moved beyond words for the tributes given across France. I can hardly describe how much these words meant to me. I can only thank you for the kindness you showed at a time of great grief’.
He added: ‘My mother’s gold thread will always shine brightly’.
The historic day, which saw the monarch speak in both English and French and receive standing ovations at the beginning and end, comes after the King enjoyed a lavish banquet at the Palace of Versailles last night.
Charles became the only British monarch ever to speak from the French senate chamber on the second day of his state visit to Paris and Bordeaux.
In a speech delivered in English and French, the King told of the ‘friendship and warm familiarity’ between the two countries, as well as the unity on issues such as climate change and foreign military aggression.
He said: ‘For the time that is granted to me as King, I pledge to do whatever I can to strengthen the indispensable relationship between the United Kingdom and France – and, today, I invite you to join me in this endeavour. Together, our potential is limitless.
‘Let us, therefore, cherish and nurture our entente cordiale. Let us renew it for future generations so that, I would like to propose, it also becomes an entente pour la durabilite (agreement for sustainability) – in order to tackle the global climate and biodiversity emergency more effectively.
‘A commitment to each other, and to the values we so proudly share; a commitment inspired by the example of the past, and emboldened to grapple with the immense challenges in the world around us.
‘As neighbours, friends, partners and allies, there is no challenge to which we cannot rise, as we have done so often in the past. Let us stride forward with hope and courage – and let us do so together.’
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