Several weeks back, Buckingham Palace and the White House confirmed something widely assumed: that Donald Trump would be welcomed for his second “state visit” to the UK this year. It’s rare that the same American head of state is welcomed to the UK twice and given all of the British state-visit pageantry, but we live in extremely wild times. Obviously, European leaders are still trying to find ways to get to Trump and talk some sense to him and “manage” him in some way. Keir Starmer is part of that effort, as is French President Emmanuel Macron. Well, now Downing Street and Buckingham Palace have confirmed a pretty sudden move: Macron will be getting all of the state-visit pageantry too, and it will happen in July.
Buckingham Palace has announced that the King and Queen will host a state visit for President Macron in July, two months before President Trump is due to come to the UK. Macron will stay at Windsor Castle rather than Buckingham Palace, which is undergoing refurbishment work.
A palace spokesman said: “The president of the French Republic, his excellency Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by Mrs Brigitte Macron, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty the King to pay a state visit to the United Kingdom from Tuesday 8th July to Thursday 10th July 2025.”
The King and Queen paid a state visit to France in September 2023. France was intended to be the destination for the first outward state visit for Charles since ascending the throne but was delayed due to riots in the country. It meant that Germany became the first stop for the King and Queen.
The last state visit to the UK from France was in March 2008. President Sarkozy was a guest of Queen Elizabeth II and also stayed at Windsor. President Trump will make an “unprecedented” second state visit as president when he comes to the UK in September. Speaking in the oval office, he described his forthcoming visit as a “fest”.
President Macron really rolled out the red carpet (literally) when Charles and Camilla visited in 2023, and he also welcomed them personally to Normandy last year for the D-Day anniversary. I’m surprised it took this long to organize a state visit for the Macrons, honestly. Better late than never. And yes, I think this is related to the Trump visit in September.
Meanwhile, People Magazine’s reaction to this news was to make it all about the Princess of Wales. People Mag desperately wants Kate to have a “tiara moment” for the state visit. Kate hasn’t worn a tiara since 2023, and it has appeared as if she’s been banned from evening events, like the annual diplomatic reception and various state banquets. It’s likely that Kate will be tasked with doing something around the state visit, but don’t get your hopes up for a “tiara moment.” Also, this visit falls during Wimbledon. Not that it means anything – Kate has barely attended many matches in the past few years.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- French president’s wife Brigitte Macron (L) toast with Britain’s King Charles III (C) as French President Emmanuel Macron (R) toast with Britain’s Queen Camilla (unseen) during a state banquet at the Palace of Versailles, west of Paris, on September 20, 2023, on the first day of a British royal state visit to France. Britain’s King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla are on a three-day state visit to France.,Image: 806919277, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: DANIEL LEAL / Avalon
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- King Charles III And Queen Camilla Visit France – Day One In Versailles King Charles III and President of France Emmanuel Macron , VERSAILLES, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 20 King Charles III, Brigitte Macron and President of France Emmanuel Macron arrive at the Palace of Versailles ahead of the State Dinner held in honor of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the Hall of Mirrors of the Chateau de Versailles on September 20, 2023 in Versailles, France. The King and The Queen’s first state visit to France will take place in Paris, Versailles and Bordeaux from Wednesday 20th to Friday 23rd 2023. The visit had been initially scheduled for March 26th – 29th but had to be postponed due to mass strikes and protests.,Image: 807049202, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Franck Castel / Avalon
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- King Charles III And Queen Camilla Visit France – Day One In Versailles King Charles III and President of France Emmanuel Macron , VERSAILLES, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 20 King Charles III, Brigitte Macron and President of France Emmanuel Macron arrive at the Palace of Versailles ahead of the State Dinner held in honor of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the Hall of Mirrors of the Chateau de Versailles on September 20, 2023 in Versailles, France. The King and The Queen’s first state visit to France will take place in Paris, Versailles and Bordeaux from Wednesday 20th to Friday 23rd 2023. The visit had been initially scheduled for March 26th – 29th but had to be postponed due to mass strikes and protests.,Image: 807050654, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Franck Castel / Avalon
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- Britain’s King Charles meets with President of France Emmanuel Macron during the European Political Community meeting at Blenheim Palace, near Oxford, Britain July 18, 2024.,Image: 890683100, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Hollie Adams / Avalon
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- Prince Charles meets with dignitaries from France, India, Colombia and Barbados during the COP26 summit at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) Featuring: Prince Charles, President Emmanuel Macron Where: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom When: 01 Nov 2021 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages/Cover Images **ONLY AVAILABLE FOR NORTH AMERICA**
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- Queen Camilla plays table tennis next to King Charles, Brigitte Macron, during a visit to local youth sports associations in Saint-Denis, Paris, on day two of the state visit to France Featuring: King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Brigitte Macron Where: Paris, France When: 21 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- Queen Camilla plays table tennis next to Brigitte Macron as they meet local youth sports associations in Saint-Denis, Paris, on day two of the state visit to France Featuring: Queen Camilla, Brigitte Macron Where: Paris, France When: 21 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III speaks with President of France Emmanuel Macron during the UK national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, held at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer Featuring: King Charles III speaks with President of France Emmanuel Macron Where: Ver-sur-Mer, France When: 06 Jun 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- (left to right) Queen Camilla, King Charles III, President of France Emmanual Macron, and Brigitte Macron walk through the memorial wall during the UK national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, held at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, France Featuring: Queen Camilla, King Charles III, President of France Emmanual Macron, Brigitte Macron Where: Ver-sur-Mer, France When: 06 Jun 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
I look forward to your coverage because Chuck and his Rottweiler are an odious pair and you summarise them well. CB is my TLDR.
It seems like Charles is trying to get as much in this year before he kicks the bucket. It seems like he’s not long for this world. They are operating like they were during QE II jubilee year when they were trying to get certain set pieces telegraphed with her before she passed.
Macron (moderate) and Merloni (right wing) seem to be the integral chess pieces in European relations with Trump. UK needs them and the rest of Europe in order to have some relevance on the global stage.
I’m tired of these pomp and circumstance events. Look what I’m wearing. Bring out the Crown Jewels. What a complete waste of time and money so they can all gather at the palace. This is one circus with all its clowns I don’t want to see.
Hmm. Guess we will see about the tiara moment. But what reason could they give for her not attending this time? Last time they said it was bc she had an EY meeting during the day or something.
Kids’ school break?
Yeah, I was wondering if it would be during the summer holiday. Is it after Wimbledon bc that’s usually the cut-ff event before summer vacay.
The UK really f#cked themselves with Brexit, especially since their “special” relationship with the USA is in the gutter because of mangos mania and greed. I miss Keener attending these events, because I have a mean streak and the appalled expressions on the faces of non hangers-on whenever she interacts with people outside the UK amuses me. (Poor Jill Biden). After looking strung out and nearly flashing the South Korean delegation, she proved she wasn’t ready for prime time. She will be benched as long as Charles is rex. Queen Keener is going to be a subject of never ending scorn and ridicule.
Wondering here what kind of bitchy moment Queen Side Piece will put on display this time around for Brigitte Macron. Her behavior towards BM and Dr. Jill at that Normandy Remembrance event was beyond the pale, as if she was a raging drunk that day.
Totally superficial comment, but how tiny is C-Rex now? Macron is officially 1,75 m/5’7″½ — but having stood next to him in flats, I think he’s no more than 5’6″½. I’m 1,80 m/~5’9″. It seems as if every bad deed CIII has ever committed in the past few years has been weighing him down — making him shrink. Which is well deserved, but still.
Agreed. KC3 is a small man…in every way. His jealousy about Diana was bad enough, but his pettiness and envy towards Harry and his family is beyond the pale. Charles is insecure and lacks confidence, he hides behind the Crown.
I only have bad thoughts about these people because they only do bad things. You can’t really deal with them because they poison your own feelings.
I beg your forgiveness for not being able to think anything good about these people.
Then he and his queen can drop sideways that France should deny his son any security, can’t they? But President Macron and his wife know how to deal with people like that. Remember the scene when Charles’ wife slapped Mrs Macron’s hand out? That was an affront that the whole world saw and which Mrs Macron handled with great dignity.
🙏🙏🙏🌷
Since the state dinner will be at Windsor and the Wales technically live at Windsor, you’d expect them both to show up. But the kids finish school the week before, so they’ll probably be in Norfolk. Kate has Wimbledon stuff, but the championships are on the 12th and 13th, so she might not be around. During tennis, I assume she goes by helicopter from Norfolk to London? Or has a few overnights at Kensington Palace?
I wonder if they will serve sausage fingers at the state banquet, and I wonder if the cow will deign to touch Madam Macron’s hand.
Please UK, feel free to keep him.