Royal dinner and glitter at Versailles

They arrived at about 8 pm at the majestic castle of Versailles (Yvelines). Emmanuel Macron and Charles III are both wearing a black suit with a bow tie, Queen Camilla is wearing a blue dress without a tiara from Dior, and Bridget Macron is also wearing a blue dress, but from Vuitton. A few minutes’ break for photographers in the majestic courtyard of the Sun King’s Palace before heading to the Sun King’s Palace for a sumptuous state dinner.

The choice of Versailles is a tribute to the king’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who was welcomed to this luxurious setting in 1957 and 1962. But the dinner is also the culmination of this first day – of three in total – of the new British sovereign’s official visit, already marked by a ceremony under the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Élysées and a mini bath for the crowd. The purpose is clear: to convey the message of Franco-British “friendship”. On the menu: blue lobster, Bresse poultry and pink macaroons, prepared by star chefs and served in Sèvres porcelain.

Among the guests at Versailles are the entire Franco-British elite: the charismatic leader of the Rolling Stones Mick Jagger, actor Hugh Grant, presenter Stefan Byrne, actresses Kristin Scott Thomas and Charlotte Gainsbourg, and even the head of the luxury group LVMH. Bernard Arnault (owner of Parisien/Aujourd’hui en France), who will meet the King face to face this Thursday at the British Embassy.

A few minutes before the celebration, Emmanuel Macron was the first to toast the visit, which he considers “as a sign of friendship and trust, which we value by its true value.” This three-day visit to France, the first since the coronation of the monarch, “is a sign of friendship and trust” and is seen “as a tribute to our past and as a guarantee of the future,” the French President confirmed at the opening of the visit. food.

At the same time, Charles III addressed the crowd with his traditional toast, juggling French, which he speaks fluently, and English. “We must all revive our friendship so that it is able to face the challenges of the 21st century,” he told Emmanuel Macron, calling for a “renewal” of the Entente Cordiale, or consensus. the anniversary will be celebrated in April next year.

How often the sovereign insisted on the problems of climate change, “this scourge,” but also on the “defense of Ukraine.” The French head of state did not forget to mention Brexit, assuring that “despite” this exit from the European Union, “we will continue to write together part of the future of our continent in order to confront the challenges and serve the goals that we have.” together.” The heads of the two states did not forget to use humor, talking either about sports or historical anecdotes.

A message that extended the lull in recent months in Franco-British relations after Boris Johnson’s tumultuous few years in Downing Street over Brexit, fishing and migrants. Following a March summit at which the French President and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak allowed a “reunification” between the two capitals.

At the table, Emmanuel Macron sat between Charles and Camilla (Brigitte Macron sat to the king’s right), leading a table of prestigious guests, from legendary Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger to actor Hugh Grant.

Up to 12,000 police and gendarmes were mobilized.

A few hours earlier, the king and the president of the republic had strolled along the Champs-Élysées in a very relaxed atmosphere, similar to the few hours when Mr. Macron patted Charles III on the back. Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron surprised each other by officially kissing each other twice: upon arriving at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe before the ceremony of lighting the flame of the Unknown Soldier, then in the courtyard of the Palace of Versailles.

The king, who is aiming to establish his international image a year after his accession to the throne, will begin the most political part of his visit on Thursday with a speech on the Senate floor, the first for a British monarch. He will also highlight a topic close to his heart – the environment – during a roundtable on global warming he will close with President Macron at the National Museum of Natural History and then on Friday in Bordeaux, in a region hit hard by the fires. in 2022 and which has a large British population.

Some 8,000 police and gendarmes were mobilized on Wednesday and up to 12,000 on Friday, when the king’s visit will also coincide with Pope Francis’ visit to Marseille.