Macron's charm offensive! President plants kiss on Camilla in front of King and Brigitte
King Charles and Queen Camilla were the picture of elegance at a glittering state banquet in Versailles as part of a three-day French Royal Tour.
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Paris
A blustery evening in Versailles did not stop French president Emmanuel Macron from kissing Queen Camilla's hand on arrival to the state banquet.
Their Majesties King Charles and the Queen had been invited along as guests of honour at the lavish event this evening in the Hall of Mirrors Palace. It marks the end of their first day in France, with two more left to go as part of the royal tour.
King Charles hailed his welcome as "magnifique" as he stepped out in a black dinner suit and bow tie, with his wife looking the part in a navy cape dress and sapphire jewels. In a special nod to the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen also wore the King George VI sapphire necklace.
Mr Macron, who has been joining the King on the first day of his tour, was seen planting a kiss on the Queen's hand, before placing his hand on the King's back and steering him towards excited crowds at the side of the red carpet.
The strong winds, which made posing for pictures a seemingly uncomfortable job, did not dampen the spirits as smiles were flashed for cameras before they all went inside.
The glitzy event included celebrities such as a wind-swept Mick Jagger, 80, and his wife, Melanie Hamrick, 36, who have their own chateau in France.
They were two of around 180 guests invited to the grand dinner at the Palace of Versailles. Among the famous faces were High Grant, Emma Mackey and Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Footballing stars with careers in England were also on the guestlist, including Arsene Wenger and Didier Drogba.
But the main focus turned to the King and Queen, who were accompanied by President Macron and his wife Brigitte whose dress code mirrored the royals.
Brigitte wore a navy ballgown with a silver neckline and belt - while Charles and Emmanuel both donned black bow ties.
And it appears the graciousness was not limited to the President, whose wife was snapped adjusting Queen Camilla's cape which appeared to slip down her arm amid the windy conditions.
Once everyone was inside the guests were treated to a brief concert by Swedish violinist Daniel Lozakovich in the Chapel Royal, before they made their way to the Hall of Mirrors for the evening's meal.
The official menu featured blue lobster, Bresse French poultry with mushroom gratin, and a selection of French and English cheeses, including Comte from France, and Stichelton from Britain, according to Macron's office.
The King and Queen will remain in Paris and Bordeaux until Friday, which will mark the end of their three day visit, which was described by Buckingham Palace as a "celebration of the United Kingdom’s relationship with France".
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Their Majesties next stops in France
- Next up they will meet community sports groups and well-known sports stars, to show the benefits sport can bring, particularly to young people, as France hosts the Rugby World Cup.
- The King will address Senators and members of the National Assembly at the French Senate.
- The Queen, together with Mrs Macron, will launch a new Franco-British literary prize at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
- King Charles and President Macron will attend a sustainability reception for British and French business leaders, to hear more about their plans to invest to protect biodiversity and combat climate change.
In Bordeaux:
- The King will meet emergency workers and communities affected by the 2022 Bordeaux wildfires, at the Forêt Experimentale, a site designed to monitor the responses of urban forests to climate change.
- Their Majesties will meet UK and French military personnel to hear more about how the two nations are collaborating on defence.
- The King and Queen will attend a GREAT campaign event in Bordeaux, which will showcase British and French businesses and will provide an opportunity for Their Majesties to meet members of the French and British communities in the city.
- The King and Queen will round off their visit with a tour of an organic vineyard, which has pioneered a sustainable approach to wine making.