Buckingham Palace unveiled the programme for King Charles and Queen Camilla’s upcoming State Visit to France, revealing an itinerary that will see the royal couple visit Paris and Bordeaux.
The King and Queen will visit France from 20 to 22 September to “celebrate the United Kingdom’s relationship with France, marking our shared histories, culture and values,” according to a press release from the Palace.
Over their three days in France, the royals will undertake engagements that reflect the shared goals towards biodiversity and climate change, defence and supporting Ukraine, and literary achievements while “highlighting sustainability and the power of community” at the heart of the United Kingdom and France.
In Paris, King Charles will become the first British monarch to address the Senators and National Assembly Members at the French Senate. Joined by President Macron and First Lady Macron, the couple will also attend a ceremony of remembrance at the Arc de Triomphe.
King Charles will meet with President Macron at the Elysée Palace, his official residence, before attending a sustainability reception and meeting business leaders to discuss their plans to tackle biodiversity and climate change.
Queen Camilla and First Lady Macron will explore their shared support of literature by launching a new prize, the Franco-British Literary Prize, at an engagement at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
As France hosts the Rugby World Cup—and the Prince and Princess of Wales are set to attend matches in Bordeaux and Marseilles—King Charles and Queen Camilla will also meet with amateur athletes and famous French athletes to show how playing sports can be an important part of a young person’s development.
One of the more glittering events on their itinerary will be a State Banquet at the Palace of Versailles hosted by President and First Lady Macron.
The State Visit continues in Bordeaux, where first responders, defence work, and biodiversity will be at the heart of their programme.
King Charles will visit the Forêt Experimentale to hear more about how the communities were affected by recent wildfires and learn more about how urban forests are reacting to climate change.
Later, the royal couple will meet with British and French military personnel to learn about joint defence endeavours; attend a GREAT campaign to learn how British and French businesses are thriving in the area; and tour an organic vineyard to hear about sustainable winemaking.
King Charles and Queen Camilla had been due to undertake a State Visit to France earlier this year; however, it was postponed due to protests.
This visit will be King Charles’s 35th official visit to France and Queen Camilla’s sixth. They last visited in 2019 for the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Landings, attending a service at Bayeux Cathedral.