KING Charles smiled as he posed with a PSG shirt bearing his name while Queen Camilla played ping pong during their Paris tour.
The monarch was in good spirits as he stood alongside Paris Saint Germain’s president Nasser al-Khelaifi, who presented him with the navy jersey in Saint-Denis.
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Queen Camilla has also been enjoying the Royal couple’s three-day visit to France and was pictured trying her hand at a spot of ping pong.
She picked up the paddle as a doting Charles III watched from the side lines with Brigitte Macron, wife of French president Emmanuel Macron.
The Queen looked focused in her elegant full length white blazer and polka dot dress.
Camilla was invited to play while visiting a community centre in Saint-Denis, northern Paris, as the King met sports stars such as former Chelsea footballer Didier Drogba – and was gifted a personalised Paris St Germain shirt.
The King laughed as his wife practiced hitting the ball, before the Queen challenged Mrs Macron, 70 – who got the better of her royal rival – to a friendly game.
And, Charles, 74, was in good spirits as he chatted at a Rugby World Cup village in St Denis with French prop Demba Bamba, who said the King’s visit has given France a lift boost during its hosting of this year’s.
Bamba added: “Everyone in France is enjoying the World Cup at the minute so it’s great to have this visit now.”
In their tour, the Royal couple have also visited a flower market at the Île de la Cité on the River Seine, named after the late Queen.
Just as pouring rain which had drenched the streets either side of the Seine, Charles and Camilla downed their umbrellas to warmly greet two stall holders who met Her Majesty during her last state visit to France in 2014.
Lionel Vivani, who has operated his stall for 25 years, told the King how he had shown his mother around the market, which was renamed after Elizabeth II following her visit.
Following his introduction to the royals, Mr Vivani said: “It was an honour to meet your King.
“I have fond memories of meeting the Queen nearly 10 years ago and I’m glad I am still here for this visit.”
Hugot Michel, who has run his family owned stall in for more than two decades, gifted the King a laminated picture of the late queen he took during her visit to his shop.
On the reverse, Mr Michel penned a note to the King, thanking him for his visit and wishing him “health and happiness”.
He said: “It is a historic day and I was honoured to meet the King.”
Her Majesty first visited the Marché aux Fleurs in May 1948 as Princess Elizabeth and again for a second time during her last State Visit to France in June 2014.
The market was renamed “The flower market of Queen Elizabeth II” in honour of her visit.
After their touching visit, Charles III headed to the Notre Dame Cathedral to review renovations after it was ravaged by a fire in 2019.
En route to the iconic Notre Dame cathedral, to inspect the huge renovation project underway following a devastating fire in 2019, Charles and Camilla were once again greeted by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte.
Mr Macron bowed to the Queen and shook Charles’ hand while the First Lady, who had spent the afternoon with Camilla, shook hands.
The two couples then made their way around the corner before entering the church.
Accompanying the King and Queen on their excursion to the iconic landmark, the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, guided the couple to a dais to sign the official welcome book known as the ‘Parchment Ceremony.’
It was the first time the ceremony has taken place outside of the Hotel de Ville, the mayor’s office.
Following the signing, Charles and Camilla took part in a chaotic walkabout, where around 200 Parisians had gathered to welcome the royal couple.
The Royal couple met firefighters who tackled the devastating blaze, delighted Parisiennes leaned out of their windows to call out “Vive le Roi”, or ‘Long live the King’.
Earlier today, King Charles made a vow the UK will always be one of the country’s “best friends” in a historic speech to the French Senate.
The monarch was the first to ever speak from the Senate chamber and told politicians in Parliament the late Queen’s “golden threat will forever shine brightly.”
His 18-minute speech comes less than two weeks after the first anniversary of his mother’s death and was applauded with a lengthy standing ovation.
Like his toast at the Palace of Versailles, the King spoke at length in both French and English.
King Charles said: “Ours is a partnership forged through shared experience, and one which remains utterly vital as, together, we confront the challenges of our world.
“Quite simply, the United Kingdom will always be one of France’s closest allies and best friends.”
The monarch expressed his gratitude France for their “great kindness” in a time “of such grief” when Queen Elizabeth II passed away.
He added the Royal Family were “moved” by support from the country.
King Charles also spoke of how President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to his mother during her Platinum Jubilee last year.
Charles told the Senate: “In the rich and complex tapestry of the relationship between France and the United Kingdom, my mother’s golden thread will forever shine brightly.
“Let it inspire us all to continue to weave the connections between our two countries – with determination, hope and with love.”
And, the King sought to build on the 119-year-old ‘Entente Cordiale’ agreement between UK and France by calling for an ‘Entente pour la Durabilité”, or agreement for sustainability.
He added: “Quite simply, the United Kingdom will always be one of France’s closest allies and best friends.”
The King also stated that Britain and France have a shared responsibility to help Ukraine and overcome the “existential challenge” posed by climate change.
He urged the partnership to tackle the global climate emergency, and emphasised the need to “stride forward with hope and courage”.
“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,” The King stated.
“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 – 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.”
On Friday, the King and Queen will leave for a vineyard in Bordeaux on Friday, to shake hands with the heroes who helped extinguish wildfires last year.
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