What to expect from the French State Visit: Windsor Castle, the Royal Family and plenty of pomp

King Charles and Queen Camilla will welcome the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and his wife, Brigitte, for a State Visit. Three days filled with pomp and ceremony will help cement the ties between the UK and France and the Royal Family will play a vital role. Here’s what to expect from the French State Visit.

Windsor in the spotlight

The State Visit by the President of France will be hosted in Windsor. Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron will stay in the ancient royal residence with the most spectacular parts of the trip all taking place inside its historic walls.

Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing renovation and so State Visits for the next few years will be based elsewhere. It means a slightly different look to the official start of the ceremonial.

State Visit arrival at Northolt

Usually, the heir to the throne greets the Head of State making the visit at their London residence before accompanying them to Horse Guards Parade for an official welcome ceremony. President Macron will instead touch down at RAF Northolt where the Prince and Princess of Wales will meet him. Along with Brigitte Macron, they’ll all be driven to Windsor where the ceremonial will start in the town.

King Charles will greet the President of France before a carriage procession which will also see Queen Camilla, Brigitte Macron and the Prince and Princess of Wales ride to Windsor Castle.

Lunch will be held at the castle before the President of France heads, briefly, to London. He’ll be back in the evening when King Charles and Queen Camilla host a State Banquet in his honour at Windsor Castle.

The Royal Family will be in attendance at the banquet where both King Charles and President Macron will make speeches. It’s a tiara event and some of the most stunning jewels in the royal vaults are expected to be on show.

The environment at the heart of French State Visit

Day two of the State Visit will begin with a poignant moment. President Macron, who often spoke of his admiration for Queen Elizabeth II, will pay tribute at her tomb in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. The private visit will see the President and Madame Macron leave flowers at the grave of Elizabeth II.

King Charles will then host President Macron on a tour of the gardens of Windsor Castle where the spotlight will be on biodiversity and sustainability.

There’s also a moment of history as The King and Queen and President and Madame Macron see a Charabanc carriage given to Queen Victoria by King Louis-Philippe of France in 1844.

The King and Queen then bid farewell to the French President and his wife who return to London where they will meet tech entrepreneurs and have lunch at 10 Downing Street with Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria.

In the evening, the Lord Mayor and the Corporation of the City of London hold a banquet in honour of President and Madame Macron who will be accompanied to the event by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

End of State Visit

The State Visit draws to a close on July 10 when President Macron and Sir Keir Starmer attend a UK/ France summit at 10 Downing Street.

There will be full coverage of the State Visit by the President of France to the UK on Royal Central and on our social media.