KING Charles and Queen Camilla dined with with rockstars and football legends at a lavish State Banquet at the Palace of Versailles.
Charles, 74, delivered a toast in both French and English as he called for a “firm friendship” between Britain and France “for centuries to come.”
8
8
8
8
8
8
He said: “My family and I were so greatly moved by the tributes paid in France to my Mother, The late Queen, whose funeral took place one year ago yesterday.”
He described how his parents made “quite a splash” and danced for three hours at Chez Carrere serenaded by Edith Piaf on a trip to France on 1948.
And the King hailed the “connections between our people” and celebrated Entente Cordiale which will mark its 120th anniversary next year.
He said: “It is incumbent upon us all to reinvigorate our friendship to ensure it is fit for the challenges of this, the twenty-first century.”
The King called on France to work together to defeat the ‘misery’ of human trafficking and the war in Ukraine.
He added: “In our long and complex history, our relations have of course not always been entirely straightforward.”
Speaking about the British French unity he added: “Today, our countries stand together against oppression and in support of the most vulnerable, including those who suffer the devastating impact of natural disaster or conflict – whether in Ukraine, in Libya and in Morocco.”
The eco-friendly King hailed Macron’s One Planet Summit initiative on creating a more sustainable world.
And signed off in his plush surroundings saying: “Mr. President, in all of this we can rely on our firm friendship, which is renewed and reinvigorated with each new generation.
“I would like, if you allow me, to raise a toast to President and Madame Macron and to the French people, as well as to our Entente Cordiale – a sustainable alliance. Whatever lies ahead, may it endure, faithful and constant, for centuries to come.”
The King and Queen walked together into the Hall of Mirrors with the Macrons before President Macron delivered a toast.
The King looked up at the President several times acknowledging his words and could clearly understand French.
A ripple of laughter echoed around the Hall of Mirrors when Macron mentioned Shakespeare, The Beatles and Rolling Stones – as Mick Jagger was in the room.
Macron gave a touching and, at times, amusing speech in French in which he paid tribute to the late Queen and Prince Philip.
He said: “
President Macron spoke warmly of the late Queen Elizabeth II during his toast calling her a “giant” of the past century.
Macron, who attended the funeral a year ago on Thursday described the late Queen as someone who “exercised her duty with a constant devotion, who [brought together] Franco-British relations in the modern era, who walked, during her 70 years, alongside giants of the century who she has gone to join.
He said: “You know the affection in which the French people held Queen Elizabeth II, your mother, throughout her life and her reign, and how much they shared the pain of the British people in their grief.
“We think deeply of her and of Prince Philip, in welcoming you this evening, with the Queen.”
He also touched on the long history of hosting British royalty in the Hall of Mirrors.
Describing the French “fascination” with their near neighbours, he cited the works of Shakespeare, the words of Churchill and the music of The Beatles as beloved by his countrymen.
There was laughter as he added, gesturing to Sir Mick Jagger: “I should also say the Rolling Stones.”
Mrs Macron sat on the King’s right hand side who as with the President on next seat and then Queen Camilla.
While President Macron spoke in French as he gave his toast.
The royals dined on French fare lobsters, chicken, a desert of macaroon and compote.
But in an display of cross-channel friendship the VIPs were served English cheese.
The 160-strong guest list were sat on one large table in the Hall of Mirrors and included stars of screen, music and sport.
British guests included Rolling Stone’s frontman Mick Jagger, author Ken Follett and actors Emma Mackay and Hugh Grant.
Jagger arrived on the red carpet with partner Melanie Hamrick and waved said ‘wow’ and ‘it’s so windy’ as his scarf blew in his face.
Representing France were football aces known to Premier League fans including former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, midfielder Patrick Vieira and ex-Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.
French businessman and billionaire Bernard Arnault – said to be the richest man on the planet – also joined the dinner.
Tennis star Amelie Mauresmo and chef Raymond Blanc also made the VIP guest list for the dinner in the Hall of Mirrors.
President Macron, 45, and his wife Brigitte, 70, also sat with the King and Queen.
My family and I were so greatly moved by the tributes paid in France to my Mother, The late Queen, whose funeral took place one year ago yesterday
King Charles
The single 180ft-long table was designed so that all of the guests were able to dine with the King and President.
The menu had been created by several French chefs and includes a starter composed of blue lobster and crab cake with a veil of fresh almonds and rooster mint.
The main course was corn-flavoured Bresse poultry, cep gratin, while cheese was 30 month Comté cheese and stilchelton, a typically English cheese.
Stichelton, a cheese similar to Stilton but made from raw milk, takes its name from an old form of the name of the village of Stilton in Cambridgeshire, England.
It was voted among the five best cheeses in the world by Anne-Sophie Pic, who imagined the starter for the Versailles dinner.
For dessert, world-famous pastry chef Pierre Hermé prepared his rose macaroon cookie, composed of rose petal cream, raw raspberry compote and a rose lychee sorbet and raspberry sorbet – which was apparently suggested by Brigitte Macron.
Guests also quaffed wine which cost more than £400 a bottle.
They included Pol Roger cuvee Winston Churchill 2013 Champagne costing more than £500, magnums of Batard Montrachet grand crus 2018 costing more than £430 and bottles of £400 Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said the dinner echoes the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1972, when she was greeted at the Palace by President Georges Pompidou.
King Charles liked the idea of following in his mother’s footsteps, according to Macron’s office.
The late Queen was the most received foreign head of state at Versailles.
She went there in 1948, in 1957 when a lunch was served in her honor in the same Hall of Mirrors, and in 1972.
The royals had a windswept arrival after jetting to Orly Airport.
The Queen was forced to hold tight to her pink beret-style hat as she walked down the steps.
Their three-day State Visit kicked off with a spine-tingling show of unity at the Arc de Triomphe.
Charles and Camilla were greeted by Macron and wife Brigitte.
STARS IN THEIR EYES
The President bowed to the King and Queen while the First Lady gave Camilla a kiss on both cheeks.
The King and President paused at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and bowed their heads before together laying a wreath in memory of those who perished in World War I and World War II.
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.
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.
At the Elysee Palace, the King presented French President Emmanuel 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.
And the pair waved at well-wishers as they walked from the Elysee Palace to British Ambassador’s residence.
Onlookers cried out “vive le roi” during the brief walkabout.
The King pointed towards well wishers and the two heads of state looked at each other and said: “Shall we say hello?”.
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’s trip to France had been pencilled in for March this year – but was later postponed due to riots.
Massive protests erupted against Macron’s plans to raise the retirement age without a parliamentary vote.
Rioters in Paris sprayed slogans like “Death to the King” and “Charles III – do you know the guillotine?” – forcing a humiliated Macron to call Charles to delay the trip.
Macron later said: “It would have lacked common sense if we’d suggested that His Majesty the King and the Queen Consort pay a state visit in the middle of the demonstrations.”
But Eric Ciotti, leader of the centre-right Republicans, said: “The visit of Charles III is cancelled by the Government due to social unrest.
“What an image for our country, which is not even able to ensure the security of a head of state.”
In an embarrassment for Macron, it was instead Germany which became the historic first destination for Charles and Camilla.
They are now set to tour Bordeaux, where protesters set the town hall on fire days before they had first been due to visit.
Buckingham Palace said: “The King and Queen will undertake a state visit to France, visiting Paris and Bordeaux, from Wednesday 20th to Friday 22nd September 2023.
“The visit will celebrate the shared history, culture and values of the United Kingdom and France.”
8
8