Macron Unleashes Unprecedented Grandeur for King Charles III's Highly Anticipated Visit to France

Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to make their long-awaited state visit to France on Wednesday, after a delay of six months from the initially scheduled date. President Emmanuel Macron was compelled to reluctantly postpone the original trip due to widespread violent protests against his proposed pension reforms.

The French leader abruptly canceled the planned March visit, citing a lack of "common sense" in proceeding. As a result, the British monarch and his wife opted to embark on their momentous inaugural foreign tour to Germany.

The comprehensive royal schedule for the rescheduled trip to Paris and Bordeaux, which concludes on Friday, remains mostly unaltered, with only a few minor updates.

Charles and Camilla will be attending an event that promotes the benefits of sports for young people, where they will have the opportunity to interact with prominent athletes. Currently, France is hosting the men's Rugby World Cup, and the upcoming Olympics in Paris next year will further showcase the importance of sports.

Additionally, Camilla and Brigitte Macron, the wife of the President, will be introducing a new Franco-British literary prize at the national library of France, the Bibliotheque Nationale de France. This exciting initiative aims to strengthen cultural ties between the two nations.

Before proceeding, the royal couple will be greeted in Paris with a commemorative ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe. Following the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, they will then proceed down the Champs-Elysees to the Elysee presidential palace, where Charles and Macron will engage in one-on-one discussions. Ahead of the trip, an Elysee palace source revealed that a variety of topics will be addressed, including biodiversity, climate change, the war in Ukraine, and the situation in the Sahel.

The Elysee source mentioned that the two have a "friendship and trust-based relationship," with the King displaying great interest in the president's analysis of significant global matters.

The inaugural day will conclude with an extravagant state banquet, hosting around 180 guests in the magnificent Hall of Mirrors, situated at the Palace of Versailles on the outskirts of Paris.

The decision to host the state dinner at Versailles has faced criticism, but the Elysee source stated that it was intended as a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II. She had dined there during a state visit in 1972, and the current King was pleased at the chance to follow in his mother's footsteps. Additionally, organizing the banquet at the historic royal venue provided an opportunity to showcase France and its famous landmarks.

France's President Emmanuel Macron was forced to postpone the original royal state visit back in March.

Macron has faced a series of domestic challenges this year, as the deep-seated divisions within French society have become more evident. In August, the government faced accusations of Islamophobia when it implemented a ban on abayas at the start of the academic year. The country experienced widespread protests during the summer following the shooting death of a 17-year-old boy by a police officer, reigniting discussions on race, identity, and excessive policing in marginalized communities. Additionally, there is ongoing discontent over Macron's highly debated pension reforms.

According to veteran French journalist Christine Ockrent, Charles' trip was not centered around domestic politics but rather aimed at commemorating the longstanding and strong relationship between France and the UK. Ockrent conveyed to CNN that currently, any pressing matters are either resolved or being kept discreet.

The newspapers and magazines will be filled with stories about Camilla's dresses and Charles' relatively good French language skills, as people are intrigued by such topics. Additionally, it is expected that there may be some demonstrations in France, questioning the allocation of money. However, overall, people will generally be pleased.

The visit of Charles and Camilla to France is happening at the request of the British government and by invitation from the French. This visit follows UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's friendly conversation with Macron at the G20 Leaders Summit in New Delhi earlier this month. Sunak also attended a bilateral summit in Paris in March to improve the relationship between Britain and France. During the summit, he acknowledged the increased tensions since the UK's decision to leave the European Union in 2016 but considered it as a fresh start.

"We have our sights set on the future, a future that capitalizes on the common threads that unite us - our rich history, our shared geography, and our collective values. This future holds even greater aspirations for enhancing the well-being of those in our care," Sunak expressed.

Macron greets UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of their bilateral meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on March 10, 2023.

Nathan Laine/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The royal visit is viewed by many as a way to further improve relations between the two neighboring countries in a post-Brexit era.

In anticipation of the visit, Chris Fitzgerald, the King's deputy private secretary, stated: "The state visit aims to honor the longstanding connection between Britain and France, emphasizing our shared history, culture, and values."

During the visit, the King will be the inaugural British royal family member to deliver a speech in the French Senate, standing on the chamber floor. It is anticipated that he will use French during portions of his address. This mirrors his effective use of both German and English while addressing the Bundestag, the German national parliament, in Berlin—where he received a positive response. In contrast, Queen Elizabeth II spoke at the French Senate in 2004, yet she delivered her speech from the Salle des Conferences, which is an adjacent chamber.

Elizabeth II decreased her international voyages during the latter part of her reign, opting to delegate foreign representation to other senior members of the royal family. With the United Kingdom now empowered to deploy its monarch as part of its foreign policy endeavors, analysts predict that we can anticipate a greater frequency of overseas excursions.

Queen Elizabeth II greets politicians with French Senate Speaker Christian Poncelet, left, in Paris in 2004.

Eric Fefeberg/AFP/Getty Images

British diplomat Scott Furssedonn-Wood stated to CNN that these visits hold immense importance. He emphasized the significance of the chosen destinations, as they represent two of the United Kingdom's longstanding European allies. This choice symbolizes the recognition and high-level acknowledgment of the crucial relationship Britain shares with these nations.

"They are not just that, but also serve as a platform for conducting genuine business," stated Furssedonn-Wood, the British High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

According to Craig Prescott, a UK constitutional expert and author of the forthcoming book "Modern Monarchy," the selection of these destinations clearly reflects the urgent priorities of the UK government.

According to Prescott, a law lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London, visiting Germany and France can be interpreted as a significant indication that the UK is not completely severing ties with Europe, especially during the ongoing Ukraine situation. He also pointed out that while most state visits are generally diplomatic and non-controversial, the King's speech at the Bundestag stood out for its genuine message of reconciliation and progress.

On March 29, 2023, a welcome ceremony took place in Berlin, Germany, in front of the Brandenburg Gate. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, accompanied by his wife Elke Budenbender, greeted Charles and Camilla, the distinguished guests.

Ronny Hartmann/AFP/Getty Images

Furssedonn-Wood agreed that the public can expect "a bit of substance" from the royal visit in France.

The King and Queen, as Sovereign and Monarch, are not involved in campaigning on any issues. However, they are keen to ensure that the visit highlights their areas of interest and expertise. It is important to note that these visits are a collaborative effort between both governments and the royal household. The King, Queen, and Macron have shown great interest in the program to ensure that it is successful and beneficial for all participants.

Furssedonn-Wood, the former deputy private secretary to the royal couple, highlighted the King's remarkable work ethic, which he will rely on during his overseas journeys.

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla of Britain applaud an act during their visit to the Reception Schuppen 52 event venue in Hamburg, northern Germany on March 31, 2023. This three-day tour in Germany marks Charles' first state visit as king and is seen as "an important European gesture" to establish and maintain strong ties following Brexit.

King Charles concluded his successful state visit to Germany, leaving a lasting impression on those who had accompanied him throughout the years. He consistently pushed us to keep up with his remarkable energy and drive, as he strived to seize every opportunity that came his way.

Later this week, Charles and Camilla are set to journey to Bordeaux, located in southwestern France. Their visit aims to extend support to the emergency workers and communities affected by the wildfires that occurred in the previous year. Additionally, they will engage with military personnel from both the UK and France to deliberate on the collaborative defense efforts between the two nations.

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CNNs Chris Liakos and Claudia Colliva contributed to this report.