How King Charles got the President of France into hot water

French President Emmanuel Macron is in hot water for the State Dinner where he hosted King Charles and Queen Camilla. 

The King and Queen were in France for a State Visit from 20 to 22 September 2023, their first State Visit to France. The visit was originally meant to take place in March 2023 but had to be postponed due to nationwide riots in France over pension reforms. 

Macron and wife Birgitte hosted The King, Queen, and 160 well-known guests at the Palace of Versailles for a State Dinner to mark the occasion. 

The Élysée Palace, the French President’s office, has released the 2023 spending report. It shows that the President ran a record-high deficit of €8.3 million with a few notable line items, including the state dinner. 

The lobster dinner at Versailles cost almost €475,000, with catering, security, and wine costs higher than normal. 

Macron’s overspending is not specifically related to The King though, as his office also spent almost €350,000 hosting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the State Dinner during his July 2023 visit to France. 

Paris is currently hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics, and Macron has repeatedly promised that swimmers will be able to use the Seine River as a venue. However, it is not certain that the river will be clean enough for competition.