Queen Camilla dazzled in diamonds and sapphires tonight as President Emmanuel Macron kissed her hand and King Charles declared their welcome to France ‘magnifique’.
Their Majesties were guests of honour at a glittering state banquet in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles at the end of a whirlwind first day of their inaugural state visit to France.
In fact the wind was very much literal too, as the gusty conditions forced several guests to struggle in their finery.
Among them was French royalty, actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg, in a black dress split to the thigh which barely covered her modestie, as the locals say.
Celebrity guests included Sir Mick Jagger, who owns a chateau in France, French-British actress Emma Mackey, as well as footballing legends with ties to England and France including, Patrick Vieira, Arsene Wenger and Didier Drogba.
Camilla and Brigitte, 70, matched in navy ball gowns while Charles and Emmanuel opted for black bow ties and dinner jackets.
In a nod to her hosts, Camilla dressed in Dior and was draped with a stunning parure of jewellery inherited from her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth.
She and the King were greeted by Macron and his wife, Bridgette, on the red carpet.
And in a sweet moment – which summed up the Entente Cordiale of the day – Mme Macron could be seen carefully adjusting Camilla’s cape after it slid down her shoulder and she struggled to fix it.
King Charles and Queen Camilla twinned with President and Brigitte Macron in France today as the two couples headed to a state banquet at the Palace of Versailles
Camilla received a typically French greeting as President Macron kissed her on the hand at the banquet
Camilla, 74, and Brigitte, 70, matched in navy ball gowns while Charles and Emmanuel opted for black bow ties and dinner jackets
The two heads of state looked very close as they headed into the banquet in Versailles
The two couples seemed to get on exceptionally well as they walked the red carpet together
The two couples looked sensational as they posed for cameras in front of the historic Palace
Camilla wore then King George VI Sapphire Suite neckalce and earrings for the grand occasion
The king and president were all smiles as they held hands and smiled with one another in France
Charles and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive to attend a state dinner
The two couples dressed very similarly in an apparent show of solidarity
At one point, Brigitte Macron appeared to help Camilla with her cape
Brigitte and Camilla appeared particularly close adjusting each others clothing
Charles and Macron appear to be exceptionally close
At one point, Brigitte put on a very animated display while chatting to Charles and Camilla
The king and president were very giggly with one another as they headed into Versailles
A true lady! The first lady helped Camilla with her cape as they headed into the gala
Meanwhile, Charles and Macron shook hands and laughed with one another
Brigitte was on hand to help Camilla with her cape while heading into the gala
Camilla looked typically radiant with sparklingly jewellery
Charles and Macron were close with another
The two couples appeared exceptionally close as they laughed their way into the ball
Brigitte and Emmanuel were on hand to greet Charles and Camilla as they stepped out the car
Brigitte quickly shook the monarch’s hand
Queen Camilla, King Charles III and President of France Emmanuel Macron walked in unison into the party
Charles and Camilla were the last to arrive and came via car
Queen Camilla, King Charles III arriving at the State Banquet at the Palace of Versailles
President Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte Macron, Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla attend a concert in the Royal Chapel before a state dinner in the Palace of Versailles
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive to attend a state dinner in their honor at the Chateau de Versailles (Versailles Palace) in Versailles
French Republican Guard stand to attention at the Palace of Versailles ahead of a state banquet
British and French celebrities dressed to the nines for the glamourous dinner, with head of Rothschild & Co, David de Rothschild, and his daughter Louise, joining the likes of Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and billionaire Bernard Arnault.
Every aspect of Their Majesties French state visit has been designed to bolster the ‘special bond’ between Britain and France.
The menu at tonight’s black tie state banquet at the Palace of Versailles is a masterclass in diplomatic relations.
Off the list of delicacies is the merest hint of foie gras. The King has banned the duck liver speciality from being served at his own residences due to the cruelty involved in its production.
Even the humble asparagus, which the chefs had originally planned to serve in March, has been binned as it is no longer in season.
It is understood the French team were keen to showcase the wide range of home-grown produce in their country and respect the King’s passion for environmentally-friendly dishes.
But there will be plenty of mushrooms, a favourite of Charles and Camilla, as they ‘remind them of the late Queen, Elizabeth II’, according to a French government source.
The King was out foraging for wild mushrooms at Balmoral when he discovered that his late mother was dying.
The menu has been devised by three leading French Michelin-starred kitchen maestros – Yannick Alleno, Anne-Sophie Pic and Pierre Herme – who sent their menu in advance to London for approval.
Inside was incredibly glamourous with flowers on the table and orante statues throughout
Foreign secretary James Cleverly was among the guests at the ball
James Cleverly opted for a tuxedo for the occasion
Mick Jagger – who famously supports Arsenal – was spotted chatting to Arsene Wenger who coached the Gunners for more than two decades
Mick Jagger joined his girlfriend Melanie Hamrick on the red carpet to attend the State Banquet on the Palace of Versailles
The couple showed off their best moves on the red carpet
Melanie Hamrick and Mick Jagger attending the State Banquet at the Palace of Versailles
Jane Birkin’s daughter, French actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg also attended the red carpet
The daughter of the late handbag muse Jane Birkin looked typically French in a chic black dress with semi opaque tights
Bernard Arnault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, and his wife Helene Mercier arrive to attend a state dinner in honor of Britain’s King Charles
French-British actress Emma Mackey arrives to attend a state banquet at the Palace of Versailles
They are well known for using foie gras in their cooking, with pastry chef Mr Herme using it in his chocolate macaroons.
A government source in Paris said: ‘The King has banned foie gras from his residences in Britain, so there was no possibility of him eating it in France.
‘He doesn’t want asparagus that is out of season either, because shipping it in is environmentally damaging, but there will be a mushroom gratin, which was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth.
‘We understand that Charles was out foraging for mushrooms just before his mother’s death in Scotland’.
There will be a touch of English cheese to delight the royal entourage and dedicated Anglophiles.
Instead, Le Menu at Versailles will be a starter of blue lobster and pot crab with a veil of fresh almonds and peppermint, created by Ms Pic; a main course of Bresse chicken with corn and a porcini mushroom gratin cooked by Mr Alleno; a 30-month old Comte, Stichelton English blue; an Isfahan Persian macaroon for desert, Mr Herme’s signature pudding inspired by the ancient city in Iran, and containing rose water, raspberries, and lychees.
Wines costing more than £400 a bottle will also be also served: Pol Roger Cuvée Winston Churchill 2013 Champagne at more than £500-a-magnum, Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2018 costing £430 and a £400 Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2004.
Ken Follett arrives at the Palace of Versailles ahead of the State Dinner held in honor of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
Footballing legend Didier Drogba, who played for Marseille before heading to the Premiere League,
Hugh Grant and Anna Elisabet Eberstein arrive at the Palace of Versailles ahead of the State Dinner held in honor of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wegner – who is French but lives in the UK for decades while managing Arsenal – was also in attendance
Foreign secretary James Cleverly and his wife Susannah Janet Temple Cleverly also attended the gala
Louise de Rothschild and David de Rothschild arrive at the Palace of Versailles
General managing director of French container transportation and shipping company CMA CGM Rodolphe Saade (L) and French President of the Franco-British Colloque, Pierre-Andre Chalendar, arrive to attend a state banquet at the Palace of Versailles
Guillaume Gallienne and Amandine Gallienne arrive to attend a state dinner in honour of King Charles and Queen Camilla
Alain Minc arrives at the Palace of Versailles ahead of the State Dinner held in honour of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the Hall of Mirrors
Carole Bouquet arrives at the Palace of Versailles ahead of the State Dinner held in honour of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the Hall of Mirrors
Former French culture minister Jack Lang (R) and his wife Monique Buczynski (L) pose at the Palace of Versailles before a state banquet hosted by the French president and his wife
Chloé Bouygues and Yannick Bolloré arrive at the Palace of Versailles ahead of the State Dinner
Yael Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly, and Vianney Pivet arrive to attend a state dinner in honor of Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Chateau de Versailles
Organisers invited a range of celebrities to eat and drink with King Charles and Queen Camilla in the lavish Hall of Mirrors – a space designed to reflect the omnipotence of the ‘Sun King’, Louis XIV.
Jagger, 80, travelled from his own stately home – the Chateau de Fourchette (Fork House) in Indre-et-Loire – for the evening.
Billionaire Bernard Arnault, 74, is the head of the LVMH luxury goods conglomerate, and owns multiple homes around the world, including mansions in Paris and Bordeaux.
Rich lists regularly put him at number one, and in 2012 he was made Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire ‘for services to business’ by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Franco-British actors on the 150-strong guest list include Charlotte Gainsbourg, 52, and Emma Mackey, 27, from the Netflix series Sex Education, and actor Hugh Grant, 63.
Sports personalities who are invited include former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, 73, and former Arsenal and France midfielder Patrick Vieira, 47, along with former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker, Didier Drogba, 45, who previously played for Marseille.
Earlier today, Charles touched down in Paris and was greeted with shouts of ‘King’ from balconies as he and Camilla received a rapturous welcome upon their arrival.
The King beamed and waved at the adoring crowds as he walked through the streets of Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron before they exchanged gifts with one another and held talks at the Elysee Palace ahead of a lavish state dinner later this evening.
Inside the residence, the King and President met staff and their families and planted a tree in the garden, following a long tradition begun by the late Queen Elizabeth .
In a sign of the warmth of their relationship, Mr Macron had gifted the oak sapling to the King from his Versailles estate and wanted to join him for the ceremonial moment.
Charles was met with cries of ‘King’ from Paris balconies as he and Emmanuel Macron walked through the streets of the French capital together
King Charles smiles warmly as he chats to President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris on the first day of his state visit
King Charles III laughs as he and French President Macron gather for a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in the centre of Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron his wife wife Brigitte Macron welcome King Charles III and Queen Camilla for an official welcoming ceremony
The garden already features five trees planted by British Royals, including three by the late Queen. They include a Persian Highwood from her first state visit to France in 1957, a Gingko Biloba from a 1972 visit and a Cork Oak from her final visit to France.
To shouts from onlookers of ‘vive le roi’ the King had a brief walkabout through one of the more exclusive streets of central Paris.
The two men were walking the short distance from the Elysée Palace to the British ambassador’s residence in the Rue du Faubourg St-Honoré just a couple of hundred metres away.
As they started off amid tight security the walk was a sterile business by the standards of British royalty. The street had been closed off to the public, and the only onlookers were office workers peering down from the balconies above. Sporadic applause greeted their progress, polite rather than enthusiastic.
But then, as they neared the residence, real crowds appeared, with real enthusiasm.
The King pointed to them, and the two heads of state looked at each other and said: ‘Shall we say hello?’ – which they duly did.
One woman in the crowd, who shook hands with the King and gave her name as Sophie, from Lyon, said: ‘I came here to see the King and because I think it’s an important and memorable moment for our two countries, especially since Brexit .
‘For my part, it [coming here] was in some sense also a tribute to Queen Elizabeth.’
She added: ‘People here still have an affection for the British crown.’
Charles and Camilla arrived shortly before 2pm on a private chartered flight from Farnborough, travelling on what is dubbed the ‘baby Voyager’ airbus plane to Paris Orly airport, where they were officially welcomed by the French Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, on behalf of President Macron and the French government.
They were also received by foreign James Cleverly, the UK’s ambassador to France Dame Menna Rawlings and the French Ambassador to the UK, Hélène Tréheux-Duchêne.
Camilla was a pop of colour in an elegant dusky pink wool crepe coat dress by Fiona Clare, and a pink beret-shaped hat by milliner Philip Treacy, which she held on to tightly due to blustery conditions as they walked along a red carpet, brushed to perfection earlier.
The royals were then whisked off in the State Bentley to the Arc de Triomphe where they were greeted by the President Macron, 45, and his wife Brigitte, 70, for a ceremony of remembrance and wreath laying at the iconic monument.
The President gave a small bow to the King and Queen, while Bridgette Macron – more business-like than Camilla in a navy jacket and short blue skirt with heels – gave Camilla a friendly kiss on each cheek. President Macron was then seen chuckling with the Queen as she repeatedly tried to keep her hat in place.
King Charles and Queen Camilla have landed in France for their three-day state visit. This afternoon they were welcomed by President Macron at an official ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe, where the two leaders went on to lay a wreath
As the King and President laid the wreath as a both nations’ air forces conducted a magnificent fly past, soaring over the famous Parisian landmark
President Emmanuel Macron with his wife Brigitte and Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive for a bilateral meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris
Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron help each other down a short flight of steps during this afternoon’s meeting at the Elysee Palace
Charles performs the re-kindling of the eternal flame using the Comite de la Flamme passed to him by Mr Macron
Britain’s King Charles and French President Emmanuel Macron attend a remembrance ceremony at Arc de Triomphe Paris
Emmanuel Macron bows and holds Queen Camilla’s hand. The Queen and King Charles are in France on a three-day State Visit
King Charles and Camilla disembark their plane arriving at a windy Orly Airport this afternoon
After being whisked away from the airport, Charles met President Macron at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris marking the first day of their state visit
President Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron greet King Charles and Queen Camilla at an official ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
King Charles and Queen Camilla greet French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne after landing in France’s Orly Airport this afternoon
The King and Queen walk down the red carpet alongside the Prime Minister
Queen Camilla was forced to hold on to her hat this afternoon as she disembarked off the plane in Paris
The French President was seen chuckling as Camilla was forced to hold onto her hat once again due to the blustery conditions in Paris
President Macron and his wife, Mme Macron, greeted their guests warmly, having posted a glowing video tribute to the British monarch – showing Charles in France over the decades – on their social media outlets earlier. It read: ‘You visited as a Prince, you return as a King. Your Majesty, welcome.’
As the King and President laid the wreath as a both nations’ air forces conducted a magnificent fly past, soaring over the famous Parisian landmark. As part of the ceremony, Charles was invited by the president to symbolically light the monument’s eternal flame which burns in memory of those who died in the First and Second World Wars.
A military band played the national anthems of Britain and France before His Majesty was escorted by the President to inspect the soldiers, consisting of the Regimental Band of the Garde Républicaine, the French Colour Part and the Tri-Service Guard of Honour. Meanwhile, the Queen chatted enthusiastically with Madame Macron.
After the Guard Inspection, The King and President Macron made their way to the Plateau, the centre piece of the Arc de Triomphe, where they stopped at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Both men bowed in silence in front of the eternal flame under the war memorial, before together laying a wreath in tribute to those who perished in the First and Second World Wars.
Nestled in the floral arrangement of white and red roses, the King placed a handwritten card with: ‘In everlasting remembrance’, written in English and French.
After the lighting, the bugle call ‘Aux Morts’, the French equivalent of ‘The Last Post’, meaning ‘to the dead’, was sounded and followed by a minute’s silence.
The British national anthem was followed by the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, as a stunning flypast of the Patrouille de France and the Red Arrows roared above the Champs-Élysées.
The Arc was the location for the Ceremonial Arrival of Queen Elizabeth II for Her Majesty’s final State Visit to France in 2014.
Nestled in the floral arrangement of white and red roses, the King placed a handwritten card with: ‘Iin everlasting remembrance’, written in English and French
The President gave a small bow to the King and Queen, while Bridgette Macron – more business-like than Camilla in a navy jacket and short blue skirt with heels – gave Camilla a friendly kiss on each cheek
A military band played the national anthems of Britain and France before His Majesty was escorted by the President to inspect the soldiers
Britain’s King Charles, his wife Queen Camilla, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron attend a remembrance ceremony
The French head of state’s spouse, Brigitte Macron and Queen Camilla speak after a ceremonial welcome at The Arc De Triomphe
Brigitte Macron and Queen Camilla meet representatives of local veteran organisations, scout and guide organisations, and the British School of Paris during a ceremonial welcome at the Arc de Triomphe
Queen Camilla shakes hands with one of the attendees during the short meeting at the Arc de Triomphe
As Charles and Camilla arrived in Paris this afternoon, a major security operation was underway – six months after they were forced to postpone their trip because of violent protests in the country
Britain’s King Charles leans in to chat with soldiers during a remembrance ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris today
King Charles greets the crowds, shaking hands with people after attending a remembrance ceremony on the first day of his state visit
French President Emmanuel Macron talks with King Charles III as they leave the Champs-Elysees after the welcoming ceremony of their royal visit to Paris
The King was in a jovial mood as he smiled and laughed while walking from the Elysee Palace to the British ambassador to France’s residence
King Charles waves to crowds while President Macron beams as they walk through the streets of Paris with an entourage
Crowds flocked onto the streets of central Paris to watch the moment that King Charles III and Camilla arrived for the ceremony
King Charles III with President Macron before planting an oak tree at the British Ambassador’s residence after the ceremony
The President of the flame committee then invited Charles and Camilla to sign the ‘Livre d’Or’ or the ‘Golden Book’, to mark their visit.
Their Majesties, accompanied by the President and Madame Macron, then left in a waiting car to be driven down the Champs-Elysée toward the Elysée Palace, escorted by two Squadrons of the Mounted Regiment of the Garde Républicaine.
The King presented President Macron with a photography album containing images of the two of them.
Charles, 74, also gave Mr Macron a complete edition of French author Voltaire’s writings as they met at the Elysee Palace.
The complete edition included Voltaire’s Lettres sur les Anglais, otherwise known as Lettres philosophiques.
The works have been edited by Prof Nicholas Cronk, director of the Voltaire Foundation and a leading UK academic at Oxford University.
Having started work in 1968, the complete works, comprising 205 volumes, was only recently finished in April 2022.
In return, Mr Macron gave the King a golden coin from the Monnaie de Paris featuring Charles’s portrait.
He also gave him a first-edition prize-winning French novel – Romain Gary’s novel Les Racines (The Roots of Heaven), which won the Prix Goncourt, France’s highest literary award in 1956.
The King and Mr Macron arrived by car at the Elysee together just before 4pm, closely followed by the Queen and Brigitte Macron.
The foursome exchanged pleasantries as they stood at the end of a red carpet in the courtyard, laughing and joking together.
They then made their way up the red carpet, pausing to pose for photographs before Charles and Camilla led the way inside.
Mr Macron appeared particularly animated, joking with the gathered media.
Inside, the King and Mr Macron posed for photographs in the lavishly decorated Salon d’ore which is used as the President’s main office.
As they entered the room, Charles jokingly asked if the waiting photographers were always there.
The men posed before the French and EU flags before taking their seats for a private discussion.
The King and Mr Macron left on foot at 16.40, headed for the UK ambassador’s residence where they will plant an oak tree presented as a gift by the French President.
The two men appeared to be in deep conversation as they strolled out of the grounds together.
The couples will then meet a number of community sports groups and sports stars as France hosts the Rugby World Cup and prepares to host the Olympics next year.
After travelling to Bordeaux, the King and Queen will meet emergency workers and communities affected by the Bordeaux wildfires in 2022, highlighting how to tackle climate change.
While in the region the King will also meet British and French military personnel as well as attend a GREAT campaign where British and French businesses will be showcased.
Finishing off their jam-packed visit, they will take a trip to an organic vineyard before flying back to Scotland where they have spent the summer.
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