Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from Windsor

Image source, Getty Images

A state visit is a blend of pageantry and ceremony mixed in with serious business and politics.

This opening day of the three-day visit by France’s President Macron was very much on the ceremonial side, with crowds in the sunshine enjoying the carriage procession.

There was a particularly warm public reception for Prince William and Catherine - and we saw her playing a full part in today’s events, as she takes another step in her gradual return after her cancer treatment.

The state banquet is one of the highlights of any such trip and it brought together some famous faces, including Mick Jagger and Elton John. In honour of UK-French relations there was sparkling English wine as well as champagne.

But the message from the King’s speech - and one we’ll keep hearing over the next two days - is about the importance of the partnership between France and the UK in an increasingly unpredictable and unstable political climate.

There might be some points of difficulty to resolve - like the small boats coming across the Channel - but the underlying message from the King and from President Macron was that such old alliances are more vital than ever in a fragmenting world.

We'll be closing this live page shortly, but will be back again tomorrow for day two of Macron's state visit.

You can also read more about today in our news story.

The banquet table, as our royal correspondent reports, is a spectacular sight, with staff saying it took several days to prepare.

Among the guests this evening are Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Elton John and Fred Sirieix.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

King Charles and Emmanuel Macron have both delivered their speeches and the state banquet is now well under way with guests tucking into a meal of summer vegetables and Welsh chicken.

Here's a quick reminder of what they both said:

• King Charles celebrated the cultural, political and historic ties between the UK and France, saying the two countries "have stood ever closer" since his royal tour in 2023
• He said both countries faced a "multitude of complex threats emanating from multiple directions", but could face them together "as friends and allies"
• The King went on to highlight collaborations in areas relating to defence, technology and climate change, noting that the two countries have "a critical role to play together"
• In his speech, Macron said he had confidence in France and the UK's relationship, and that there were constant reminders that the two countries "must never lower our guard"
• He said that when France and the UK "come together around one table, everything is possible", before raising his glass to "Franco-British friendship"

Macron goes on to talk about the Bayeux Tapestry, which will be returning to the UK on loan more than 900 years after its creation.

He describes it as a "real bit of history".

He says people will be able to discover the story of the tapestry on the walls of the British Museum.

"For the first time in 900 years the Bayeux Tapestry will follow the same path as the warriors whose story it tells and land on British soil," he says.

Macron goes on to say that when France and the UK "come together around one table everything is possible".

He ends by raising his glass in honour of the UK.

"Long live Franco-British friendship," he says.

Macron is speaking now and begins by thanking King Charles for welcoming himself and his wife to Windsor Castle.

"A sign of your great courtesy and a testament to your friendship with France," he says.

Macron also alternates between French and English during his speech.

He says he has confidence in France and the UK's relationship ahead of a summit due to take place between the two countries.

"On either side of the channel, there is a constant reminder that we must never lower our guard," he says.

He then highlights the importance of the two countries coming together for research, science, and education.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from Windsor

Image source, PA Media

King Charles switched between English and French in a state banquet speech that warmly celebrated the deep cultural, political and historic ties between the UK and France.

That partnership would be vital in the alliance supporting Ukraine, said the King, in “defence of liberty and freedom from oppression.”

He also spoke of the need to tackle “irregular migration across the English Channel” and the cross-border threats in an uncertain world of “terrorism, organised crime, cyberattacks.”

Ecological threats meant the “very future of our planet hangs in the balance,” he told guests.

The King ticked off a series of cultural references that brought together France and Britain - such as the French Impressionist painter Monet depicting scenes in London, Jane Birkin performing in French and Thierry Henry scoring goals for Arsenal. Asterix the cartoon Gaul got a mention.

The King praised French cuisine although there had been some “remarkable rapprochements,” he said.

“This evening, we have drunk English sparkling wine made by a French champagne house. This would have been scarcely believable to at least some of our predecessors.”

The King says the UK and France “would not be neighbours if we did not have our differences.”

He remarks that the relationship between the two nations are “built on co-operation and mutual fascination”.

Continuing to switch between English and French, King Charles says that Britain and France are working even more closely, remarking that the two jointly lead the “coalition of the willing,” which King Charles says is in “defence of our shared values”.

The King says the two nations are collaborating closely in confronting threats relating to defence, technology and climate change.

"The UK and France have a critical role to play together," he says.

With that, he concludes and leads the table in a toast to France.

Image source, PA Media

After an initial welcome to Windsor Castle to the Macrons spoken in French, King Charles says much has happened since his royal tour of France in 2023, and that the UK and France “have stood ever closer since then”.

He speaks of “a thousand years of shared history and culture between our two peoples” and mentions the Royal Family's personal connections to France.

The King says the UK and France face a "multitude of complex threats emanating from multiple directions", but "as friends and allies, we face them together".

We are now hearing from King Charles III as he addresses the state banquet being held as part of the visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.

You can watch the speeches from Windsor Castle by pressing Watch live at the top of this page.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

The table settings show a place for “Sir Michael Jagger,” with the Rolling Stone having also been at the corresponding event in Versailles a couple of years ago, when the King visited France.

The rock star, and now pillar of the establishment, will be sitting next to movie star Dame Kristin Scott-Thomas.

Also part of the knight club at the banquet is Sir Elton John, who is sitting next to the Duchess of Gloucester.

Fred Sirieix, famous from TV’s First Dates, will be able to try out his conversational skills at the banquet.

President Macron, the King and the Princess of Wales are all in a row.

While Sir Keir Starmer could get some tips on avoiding own goals, as he’s sitting next to former England goalkeeper Mary Earps.

King Charles III and Emmanuel Macron have entered the banquet room and taken their seats at the table.

The national anthem is playing.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are also with them.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from Windsor

Image source, PA Media

The state banquet for the French visitors is in Windsor Castle, rather than the usual ballroom at Buckingham Palace, which is undergoing renovations.

It’s a spectacular sight - and getting the table ready with all its elaborate settings has taken several days, according to some of the staff still making the final preparations.

They also claim this is Britain’s longest table, as it stretches into the distance, laden with five glasses per person and precisely laid out table settings for more than 150 guests. I’m not sure how you would decide it’s officially the longest, although tour guides in Windsor also claim the town has the shortest street.

Those polished glasses, under the gaze of royal portraits on the walls and suits of armour, will be used for another taste of a UK-French partnership, with guests being offered an English sparkling wine, made by a French champagne company.

Image source, Reuters

The Prince and Princess of Wales have posted on social media saying they are "ready for what promises to be a wonderful State Banquet this evening in Windsor".

The post includes a picture of the couple wearing formal dress, external.

Image source, PA Media

King Charles III, Queen Camilla, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron have arrived at Windsor Castle's state banquet.

We're expecting a speech from King Charles and Macron, which we'll bring you the key lines from. You can also follow along by clicking watch live at the top of this page.

Image source, PA Media

Last-minute adjustments are being made in preparation for the guests' arrival at Windsor Castle for tonight's state banquet.

As we reported earlier, a special cocktail called "l'entente" will be served, followed by summer vegetables and Welsh chicken.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Shortly we're expecting to see guests arrive at Windsor Castle for a state banquet.

It's being held as part of Macron's state visit to the UK and will see him and King Charles III both deliver speeches.

Not got an invitation? Stick with us as we'll bring you the latest updates from the event.

How might a 'one in, one out' asylum returns scheme work?published at 19:56 British Summer Time 8 July

19:56 BST 8 July

Reporting by Tom Edgington

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to press for more help from France to stem migrant Channel crossings when he meets the French president later on his visit.

To reduce numbers, it has been reported that the UK is seeking a “one in, out out” asylum deal with France.

This would allow the UK to send illegal migrants who have crossed the Channel back to France. In return, the UK would accept asylum seekers from France with a UK connection - such as family ties.

Madeleine Sumption from the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford told BBC Verify that the EU and Turkey introduced a similar scheme in 2016.

However, it was used alongside other measures, including physically intercepting boats, making it hard to judge the effectiveness of the “one in, one out” scheme alone, she adds.

For any scheme to be successful, she says there has to be a strong disincentive:

“The core idea is to try and create a disincentive for people to cross. If a high share of people are sent [to France], many people will know about it and it will have an impact as it changes people’s assessment.

“On the other hand, if you send a small percentage people will just see it as another risk.”

• Read more about government pledges on illegal migration

Image source, Reuters

As we've been reporting, the French president and UK prime minister have been laying wreaths at the statue of former French President Charles de Gaulle, in Carlton Gardens.

They also met veterans during a ceremony held at the same location in central London.

Here's a note left by Prime Minister Starmer at the statue:

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

Image source, Reuters

Another British politician who's been meeting the French president at Lancaster House is the Liberal Democrats' leader Sir Ed Davey.

Like Prime Minister Starmer and the Conservatives' leader Kemi Badenoch, who both spoke to Macron a little while ago, Davey was also in the audience when Macron addressed Parliament this afternoon.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from Windsor

Image source, Reuters

We’ve got some details of what will be on the menu at Windsor Castle this evening during the state banquet.

In honour of the Entente Cordiale, there is a special cocktail called “l’entente”. It combines British gin with lemon curd and French pastis. It’s garnished with dried French cornflowers and English roses.

Among the guests, we know the arrival procession will include the actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas. She'll be there along with senior royals, including the King and Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales, and their French visitors.

We should also get more famous faces arriving, reflecting French and UK links.

For their dinner, chef Raymond Blanc has made a menu that begins with a selection of tender summer vegetables with sage, raw tomato and extra virgin olive oil dressing.

For a main course, it’s a supreme of Rhug Estate chicken with Norfolk asparagus and tarragon cream.

Then it’s iced blackcurrant-soaked sponge with elderflower jelly.

And to wash it all down, the wine list includes Domaine Evremond, Classic Cuvee, Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Crus Etienne Sauzet, 2022, 1er Grand Crus Classe Pessac-Leognan 1996 and Louis Roederer, Carte Blanche.

Salut!