Best pictures from state visit to France - as Queen plays table tennis and King gifted football shirt
King Charles followed up a historic speech at the French Senate with a visit to several locations in and around Paris. Queen Camilla managed to fit in a few rounds of table tennis along the way.
Thursday 21 September 2023 20:18, UK
The King received a warm welcome from French politicians while he delivered a historic speech as the first British monarch to speak at the country's senate.
Members from both the upper and lower houses of parliament in France stood and applauded him at length, as he declared "the United Kingdom will always be one of France's closest allies and best friends".
The partnership between the two nations "remains utterly vital as together we confront the challenges of this world," he said, switching from French to English.
On the second day of their state visit, the King and Queen Camilla headed to Saint-Denis, north of Paris, to meet community sports groups and stars as France hosts the Rugby World Cup.
There, the King also met with the Paris Saint-Germain's president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who gave him the football club's No. 3 shirt - in a nod to the monarch's status as the third King Charles.
The King spoke with young athletes while the Queen exchanged a few balls with Prithika Pavade, a 19-year-old French table tennis player.
The King laughed as his wife practised hitting the ball before the Queen challenged Brigitte Macron to a game.
Royal charm offensive is a job well done - but timing of King's climate remarks felt awkward
Two busy days, but job done for the King and Queen in Paris.
If yesterday was the ceremonial, this was the business end of the capital's charm offensive.
The centrepiece, a speech from the King to the French parliament, pledging to strengthen relations between Britain and France.
It was a historic moment; no monarch before has spoken from the Senate floor. And historic references peppered the speech, notably the Entente Cordiale signed by his great, great grandfather.
But from the King a modern take, why not an Entente for sustainability he proposed? The climate crisis is a cause he has long campaigned for.
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The wife of Emmanuel Macron appeared to get the better of the royal as they played for a few minutes in a well-spirited match.
The Queen also tried her hand at weaving at French luxury fashion house Chanel's 19M workshop, with Brigitte Macron and the luxury brand's chief executive Leena Nair watching on.
On Wednesday, the King and Queen attended a state banquet at the Palace of Versailles.
It was attended by famous faces credited with contributing to Anglo-French relations.
Guests included Rolling Stones leng Mick Jagger and actor Hugh Grant.