King Charles to become first British royal to address the French senate as Emmanuel Macron rolls out the red carpet for his rescheduled state visit later this month

The King will become the first British royal in history to address the French senate later this month as part of new Anglo-French charm offensive, including a glittering state banquet in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.

President Macron is rolling out the red carpet for King Charles’s re-scheduled state visit after his inaugural trip as monarch was cancelled in June as violent protests against state pension reforms swept the host country.

The King and Queen, aged 76 and 74, are packing in 21 high-profile engagements in just three days, dividing their time between Paris and Bordeaux.

Chris Fitzgerald, Deputy Private Secretary to Their Majesties, said the trip would highlight issues of mutual interest including climate change, protecting biodiversity, strengthening security and defence ties in response to the conflict in Ukraine and recognising outstanding cultural achievement.

A senior FCO official also acknowledged that the contentious issue of cross-Channel migration was, inevitably, in the background.

President Macron previously met with the then-Prince of Wales in London in 2020

But it is unlikely to be raised by the king directly in any significant way with the French leader for fear of straying into choppy political waters.

They said: ‘This really is an absolutely massive relationship both government to government and people to people…ranging through defence, trade, migration and sustainability and the environment. ‘

He added that British diplomats were hugely buoyed by the success of the king’s inaugural state visit to Germany, which went ahead after the French leg was cancelled.

The official revealed Britain was already reaping ‘very real benefits’ in the areas as diverse as trade, foreign policy and cultural issues as a result of that trip and saw the French visit as another chance to re-enforce a ‘very important relationship’.

The King and Queen will fly to Paris on September 20 and join President and Madame Macron for a ceremony of Remembrance and wreath laying at the Arc de Triomphe, before processing down the Champs-Élysées towards the Elysée Palace.

King Charles will have a private bilateral meeting with the President, who has made no secret of his admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth, before attending a black-tie banquet with Queen Camilla in their honour at The Palace of Versailles.

The King will also become the first British royal to ever have been invited to address Senators and members of the National Assembly at the French Senate, and plans to do so in both English and French.

Meanwhile his wife will join Mme Macron to launch an unprecedented new Franco-British literary prize at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

The two couples also plan to meet community sports groups and a host of well-known sports stars to highlight the benefits sport can bring to young people as France hosts the Rugby World Cup and prepares to host the Olympics next year.

King Charles will have a private bilateral meeting with the President, who has made no secret of his admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth, before attending a black-tie banquet with Queen Camilla

It was ruled it was too unsafe for the King and Queen to visit France as violence swept the country

President Macron is rolling out the red carpet for King Charles’s re-scheduled state visit after his inaugural trip as monarch was cancelled in June as violent protests against state pension reforms swept the host country

President Macron was forced to council the King’s original visit earlier this year due to riots over pension reform

In Bordeaux, chosen because it is home to such a large number of British ex-pats and is twinned with Bristol, the King and Queen will meet emergency workers and communities affected by the 2022 Bordeaux wildfires and highlight attempts to combat climate change.

The King will also meet U.K. and French military personnel, as well as attend a GREAT campaign to showcase British and French businesses and members of both communities in the city.

Before they fly back to Scotland, where they have been spending the summer, the Royal couple will tour an organic vineyard which has pioneered a sustainable approach to wine making.

Mr Fitzgerald said: ‘The State Visit will celebrate Britain’s relationship with France, marking our shared histories, culture and values.

‘As well as speaking to the strength of the U.K.’s bilateral relationship with France, Their Majesties’ visit will include engagements highlighting sustainability and the power of community – key themes of importance to the citizens of both our nations. The visit takes place at the request of the British Government and following an invitation from the French President.’

While there has been some surprise that the King has not yet visited a British realm or Commonwealth nation since his accession, Whitehall sources have made clear that the government sees Europe as an immediate priority, particularly in light of the war in Ukraine.

They are keen to use the King and Queen’s power of ‘soft diplomacy’ to build on the UK’s strong historic ties with some of its closest neighbours.

While the cancellation of the original visit in March was a humiliating climb-down for President Macron, who was forced to acknowledge he could not ensure the safe transportation of his VIP visitors and their entourage, most rioters made clear that they had no beef with the British sovereign personally.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on security issues, but with finer detail of the couple’s programme being kept under wraps until their arrival it is clear that it is foremost in their mind.