The King will refer to the “complex threats” facing the UK and France – stressing “these challenges know no borders” – as he delivers a speech to welcome President Emmanuel Macron to his first state visit.
It’s understood that the monarch will be referring to issues around defence, artificial intelligence and the climate crisis when he speaks during tonight’s glittering state banquet in Windsor.
But with political discussions in the run up to this dominated by the issue of immigration and small boats crossing from France, the King’s use of the word “borders” will be seen by some as particularly interesting.
King Charles will say: “Our two countries face a multitude of complex threats, emanating from multiple directions. As friends and as allies, we face them together.
“These challenges know no borders: no fortress can protect us against them this time.”
Emphasising how the UK and France can lead the way in confronting them, he will add: “Our two nations share not only values, but also the tireless determination to act on them in the world.”
King Charles and the Queen are set to welcome the French leader and his wife Brigitte to Windsor Castle.
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It is the first state visit to take place in Windsor in more than 10 years, and marks the first state visit to the UK by an EU leader since Brexit.
Today, Mr Macron will address parliamentarians in the Palace of Westminster’s Royal Gallery – and on Thursday, join a UK-France summit with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Defence, growth, security, migration and French tactics on tackling small boats will be discussed, with the two leaders expected to dial in to speak to other allied looking to support any future peace deal in Ukraine.
Yesterday, Downing Street said that the UK’s relationship with France was “key” to dealing with boat crossings, following reports French police officers had used knives to puncture a boat off the coast.
Lord Ricketts, who was the Uk’s ambassador to France until 2016, told Sky News that it is not the King’s role to get bogged down in issues like the migration crisis.
“The King won’t get involved in the controversial political discussions, no, I think he’s been brought up from birth to avoid that,” he said.
“I’m sure he has personal views and he will talk about the broader relationship but I think his job is to set the scene, to remind everyone that Britain and France are old nations, they have an enormous amount to share, the history is there and depth of personal relationships and that is the backdrop for Keir Starmer to get into the questions where maybe there are still differences.”
With the closeness between the two men, and the huge interest in the royals generally in France, journalist Maud Garmy from Pont de Vue magazine told us this trip will certainly attract more attention than your average political visit.
“I have to admit, for French media, one of the main things about this visit is going to be the images from Windsor – because of the glamour, because of the pomp, because of the pageantry,” she said.
“There will be more images on French television about President Macron meeting the King in Windsor rather than him being in London for speeches with the prime minister because those images are much more glamorous, there will be a strong friendship shown, and for the media that’s just pure gold.”
It will be the welcome from their royal hosts that will make the visit particularly special for the president and his wife Brigitte.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will travel to RAF Northolt to meet the Macrons before travelling with them to Windsor, where the King and Queen will be waiting to accompany them on a carriage procession to Windsor Castle.
The King and Queen paid a state visit to France in September 2023 and enjoy a warm rapport with the Macrons, who will stay in the castle during their trip.
