King Charles will address the "complex threats" confronting both the UK and France as he formally welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron to Windsor during a historic state visit.
The visit marks several milestones — the first state visit held in Windsor in over a decade, and the first by an EU leader to the UK since Brexit. It’s also Macron’s first official state visit to the UK as president.
In a speech during tonight’s state banquet, the King is expected to stress the importance of unity in the face of challenges such as defense, artificial intelligence, and the climate crisis.
“Our two countries face a multitude of complex threats, emanating from multiple directions. As friends and allies, we face them together,” the King will say.
“These challenges know no borders: no fortress can protect us against them this time.”
The mention of "borders" may resonate politically, given ongoing debates over immigration and small boat crossings from France, which have dominated UK political discourse in the lead-up to the visit.
Emphasizing the shared responsibilities of the two nations, the King will add:
“Our two nations share not only values, but also the tireless determination to act on them in the world.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla will officially receive President Macron and his wife Brigitte at Windsor Castle, with the Prince and Princess of Wales also involved in greeting the French couple at RAF Northolt before joining them on a ceremonial carriage procession to the castle.
President Macron is expected to address parliamentarians in the Palace of Westminster’s Royal Gallery on Wednesday. On Thursday, he will take part in a UK-France summit with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Key agenda items include defense, economic growth, security, migration, and joint approaches to curbing small boat crossings.
The leaders are also expected to speak with international allies about potential support for a future peace settlement in Ukraine.
Downing Street has emphasized the strategic importance of Franco-British relations in addressing cross-channel migration. This comes amid controversy over reports that French police punctured a migrant boat off the coast — a tactic that has drawn scrutiny.
However, former UK ambassador to France Lord Ricketts noted that the King is unlikely to wade into such contentious political matters.
“He’s been brought up from birth to avoid that,” Ricketts told Sky News. “His role is to set the stage and remind everyone of the deep historical and cultural ties between our two nations. It’s then up to political leaders like Keir Starmer to handle the more divisive issues.”
French media are expected to give the visit extensive coverage — not just for its political significance, but for its pageantry.
“For the French press, the imagery from Windsor will be a highlight — the glamour, the ceremony, the symbolism of friendship,” said Maud Garmy, a journalist from French magazine Point de Vue. “That kind of visual storytelling is gold for the media.”
The King and Queen visited France in September 2023, and have since developed a warm rapport with the Macrons. The French president and his wife will stay at Windsor Castle during their visit, underscoring the ceremonial and diplomatic importance of the occasion. Photo by Jacques Paquier, Wikimedia commons.