King and Queen to visit France in September

The King and Queen’s postponed state visit to France will take place in September.

The original trip was meant to happen in March but widespread protests and riots led to its cancellation.

France was chosen to be the royal couple’s first state visit destination, but that privilege went to Germany, which was planned as the second part of the trip.

The King was welcomed to Germany with a full military ceremony at the Brandenburg Gate, including the handshake moment with President Steinmeier.

Charles and Camilla will now arrive in France on 20 September and will spend three days in the country, visiting both Paris and Bordeaux.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “The visit will celebrate the shared history, culture and values of the United Kingdom and France.”

Details of the trip are still to be announced, but it is expected President Macron will host a state banquet at the Palace of Versailles.

It is understood the other engagements will be similar to those planned for the trip in March. The organisations from the original tour were connected to the interests of the couple.

Read more:
No more action over claims against King’s charity
Man interviewed by police over alleged British Museum thefts

Is soft power still the UK’s secret weapon?

State visits are all about the soft power of the monarchy.

They are carefully planned, diplomatic deployments that put the King and Queen on a PR charm offensive.

Europe was selected as the first destination in a push to restore and reaffirm relations post-Brexit.

The March trip to Germany saw the King become the first British monarch to address the Bundestag from the floor of the parliament.

A two-minute standing ovation proved his speech, delivered in German and English, went down well.

This will be the King’s 35th official visit to France and Queen Camilla’s ninth official trip.

In her reign, the late Queen carried out 121 state visits.

She was globally regarded as the secret weapon of British diplomacy.