King Charles welcomes President Macron, Starmer strengthens UK relations

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Tuesday, July 8th, 2025

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Windsor, July 8 – King Charles III hosted French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron at Windsor Castle today, marking the first state visit by a French president to the UK in over 15 years. The visit comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer seeks to deepen cooperation on key issues.
France’s last presidential state visit was in March 2008, when President Nicolas Sarkozy met Queen Elizabeth II. Today’s ceremony featured a red-carpet welcome at RAF Northolt by the Prince and Princess of Wales, followed by a carriage procession through Windsor with King Charles and Queen Camilla. The ceremonial guard of honour and marching bands accompanied the spectacle.
President Macron and Prime Minister Starmer plan to use the three-day visit to reset post-Brexit tensions and address shared priorities. On their arrival, Macron pledged “concrete, effective and lasting” collaboration on defence, nuclear energy, migration, and Channel crossings
Later today, Starmer and Macron will co-chair a UK-France Summit at Downing Street, focusing on migration and security. A luncheon at the castle will feature items from the Royal Collection celebrating Franco-British history
In the evening, King Charles will deliver a speech highlighting the two nations’ resolve in confronting “complex threats” together. Macron is also scheduled to address Parliament in London and later return to Windsor for the state banquet.
This visit represents the first UK state visit by a French leader since the UK’s exit from the EU and King Charles’s accession. By reinforcing diplomacy and shared action on pressing issues, Starmer and Macron aim to bolster the centuries-old alliance into a modern partnership.