Au revoir, France! King Charles waves goodbye as he boards plane to head home with Camilla – after enjoying Bordeaux wine and tucking into cheese platter during final day of state visit

King Charles III waved au revoir to France as he boarded a plane to head home with Queen Camilla – after received a rapturous welcome in Bordeaux today where His Majesty enjoyed some cheese and a drink or two in the wine capital of the world.

The King waved to the crowd at the top of they boarded the royal plane at Bordeaux-Merignac Airport as they set to depart for the UK.

Their Majesties ended their three-day French state visit in south-west France where September showers failed to dampen their spirits.

The King enjoyed a livener or two as he toured a chaotic festival after taking a ride on an electric tram. He was persuaded to have a nip of whisky – made from his own barley – as he went round the stalls in Bordeaux’s main square.

Moments later he went into another tent where he was talked into trying some organically-made red wine. He also chose a piece of cheese to be wrapped up for him, saying he could not leave without having some local fromage.

He and the Queen arrived at the Place de la Bourse by electric tram after leaving a reception on board the frigate Iron Duke.

Before getting on the tram the King broke away to shake hands with members of the crowd, who have usually been kept well away from the royal visitors by French security. ‘We’re from Australia,’ one woman told him. Another said: ‘We’re from Yorkshire!’

As he and Camilla boarded the tram – having been provided earlier with their 1.80 Euro tickets – the King sat down and said: ‘Which way are we going?’

As they set off on the brief journey – just a few hundred yards – the couple waved to onlookers outside.

They arrived at the festival – part of the UK government’s GREAT campaign to promote British trade – to be greeted by a band and chaotic scenes as the crowds jostled to catch a glimpse of the royals.

On his tour of the stands the King visited a stall run by the Gilbert rugby ball company, where he successfully met the ‘passing challenge’ by throwing a ball through a hole a couple of metres away.

Then at a whisky stall he was persuaded to try some Cotswolds whisky, which head of sales Hughes Roberts-Baby said was made with barley from Highgrove. ‘He loved it,’ said Roberts-Baby.

Spotting another whisky, he said: ‘I know Old Pulteney – that’s very good.’

A few minutes later the King also tried a glass of St Ferdinand Source Lussac-Saint Emilion. Allan Sichel, president of the Bordeaux Wine Council, said the King discussed how Bordeaux was increasingly turning to organic methods of wine production.

As the King left he was serenaded with a hymn by members of the Fiji rugby team who were at the event.

When they arrived in Bordeaux they were greeted with cheers and shouts of ‘Vive le Roi’ – long live the King in French – from the huge crowds that gathered in the historic city.

The royal couple flew to south-western France after two days in Paris with the Macrons.

His Majesty and his wife are meeting Britons running businesses before touring one of the region’s famous vineyards on the final day of their state visit.

Charles and Camilla flew from Paris to Bordeaux, a change from their original plans amid French media leaks, before being welcomed in a town hall.

Hundreds of people were waiting, and cheered wildly as the royals arrived. The King and Queen then stopped to chat with the public. 

Later 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.

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.

Their Majesties received a warm welcome to the Hôtel de Ville in the heart of historic Bordeaux to celebrate the strong and historic ties between the city and the UK.

Hundreds had gathered to catch a glimpse of the royal couple with shouts of ‘Vive le Roi’ and ‘welcome to Bordeaux’.

It is twinned with Bristol and the Mayors of both cities were there to welcome them.

The King and Queen will observe a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the two cities, celebrating one of the U.K.’s oldest twin city relationships and looking to further cooperation in areas including sustainability, youth and cultural exchanges, and business growth.

Their Majesties arrived at Place Pey Berland, where the Bordeaux Town Hall, the Palais Rohan, is situated.

The King and Queen were met at the main gates of the Town Hall by the Mayor of Bordeaux, Mr Pierre Hurmic. Children from local schools lined Their Majesties’ route into the Town Hall whilst a youth orchestra from the Gironde region played.

The Queen was presented with a posy at the door of the Town Hall.

Once inside the Town Hall, Their Majesties viewed an exhibition featuring photos from The King’s visit to Bordeaux in 1977 as well as Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Bordeaux during the State Visit to France in 1992.

Charles and Camilla met the Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees and his Bordeaux counterpart Pierre Hurmic before being shown a memorandum of understanding- a document outlining an agreement- between the two cities.

They signed the town hall’s guest book, before going out to the garden to plant a Loquat Leaf Oak tree.

Charles giggled as Camilla poured water on the plant, saying ‘very good’.

Camilla was handed a bouquet of flowers after she and Charles greeted hundreds of well-wishers outside Bordeaux’s town hall on Friday afternoon.

Locals waved French and Union flags and shouted ‘God Save The King’.

Butcher Georges Britouille, 57, said: ‘This for us is historic, to have the King visit where we live is something to be remembered.’

They were shown photographs of the King’s visit to the city in 1977, as well as the late Queen Elizabeth’s stop there in 1992.

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 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.’

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.

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. 

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.’