BBC: Few scenes convey British pomp and soft power more than the King and Queen in a carriage procession through the picturesque streets of Windsor. They are being joined on Tuesday by Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron for the first state visit by a French president since 2008, and the first by a European Union leader since Brexit.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will be there too - a Royal Salute will be fired and Macron will inspect a guard of honour. But at a time of jeopardy in Europe, this three-day visit to Windsor and London promises much more than ceremony.
There is a genuine hope that the coming days will make a difference to both countries.
Macron will address MPs and peers at Westminster, and he and Brigitte will be treated to a state banquet back at Windsor. The trip will culminate with a UK-France summit, co-chaired by Sir Keir Starmer and Macron, during which the two governments hope to reach an agreement on the return of irregular migrants.
They will also host Ukraine's leader by video as they try to maintain arms supplies to his military.
But the wider question is how closely aligned they can really become, and whether they can put any lingering mistrust after Brexit behind them.
And, given that the trip will involve much pageantry - with the tour moving from the streets of Windsor, the quadrangle of the Castle and later to the Royal Gallery of the Palace of Westminster - how crucial is King Charles III's role in this diplomacy? » | Paul Kirby, Europe digital editor | Tuesday, July 8, 2025
THE GUARDIAN – EDITORIAL: The Guardian view on Macron’s state visit: a renewed entente cordiale is good for France, Britain and Europe: After being sabotaged in the Brexit years, one of the UK’s most important bilateral relationships is back on a firm footing »
