Paul Kirby
Europe digital editor

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, how crucial is King Charles III's role in this diplomacy?

You can read more analysis from our Europe editor, Paul Kirby, in this in-depth piece.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from Windsor

Image source, Reuters

As part of this diplomatic schmoozing, President Macron and Brigitte have been shown a display of French-themed items from the Royal Collection in Windsor Castle.

This included Queen Victoria’s journal entry from August 1855, when Victoria had become the first British monarch for 400 years to have visited Paris.

There was also a photograph of King George VI’s state visit to France in 1938 and a decanter of Louis XIII cognac, of the kind served during the trip.

There were also books that once belonged to Napoleon as well as Marie Antoinette’s snuff box.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, PA Media

State visits like this are "soft power" opportunities to strengthen trade, cultural and defence ties - in this case with an important European partner.

In 2023, the King and Queen paid a state visit to France, which was seen as a diplomatic success in helping to rebuild relations after Brexit.

King Charles received a standing ovation from the French Senate, after a speech in which he spoke strongly in support of Ukraine, after the "horrifying" invasion by Russia.

As well as set-piece occasions at the Arc de Triomphe and a banquet at the Palace of Versailles, the King went to see environmental projects and a food market in Bordeaux.

Macron's visit is a prime opportunity to reinforce links with a European ally, against a background of uncertainty about negotiations over Ukraine and the threat of tariffs from the United States.

Earlier we saw French president Emmanuel Macron receive a grand welcome as he kicked off his state visit to the UK.

He was met at RAF Northolt by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

They accompanied him to stage set up in Windsor where the King and Queen were waiting.

After the official greeting, King Charles and Macron departed together in an open-topped carriage, followed by Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron in a separate carriage, with the Prince and Princess of Wales behind.

Macron and his wife are having now having lunch with the King and Queen, before he heads to London to address Parliament.

This evening there will be a state banquet for the French president.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Emmanuel Macron is the first French president to travel to the UK for a state visit in 17 years.

The last one was in March 2008, when President Nicolas Sarkozy was a guest of Queen Elizabeth II.

The late Queen remarked how there have been many state visits between the UK and France over the centuries, but what continued to stand out to her was the "respectful yet competitive relationship" shared between the two.

It is understood that the French visit was already being planned before an extra invitation was extended to US President Donald Trump earlier this year, making this an increasingly busy year for international royal engagements.

Diplomats hope visit will heal post-Brexit tensionspublished at 13:38 British Summer Time

13:38 BST

James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

In the bright Windsor sunshine, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron were given a full regal welcome: marching bands, an open top carriage ride past cheering crowds, a guard of honour at the castle.

Pageantry to revive a relationship so bruised in recent times it’s now 17 years since a French president was last invited on such a visit.

French diplomats hope the next three days will help both countries to move on from the tensions of Brexit and a defence pact with the US and Australia that excluded France.

On his arrival President Macron promised "concrete, effective and lasting" cooperation on defence, nuclear energy and migration.

At a state banquet this evening, the King will say Britain and France face “complex threats” but “as friends and allies” will face them together.

Imogen James
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media

It has been quite the ceremony so far as the Royal Family welcomed the French president and his wife in the UK for a three-day state visit. Let's take a look at what happened:

A royal greeting: Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron touched down at RAF Northolt just after 11:00 BST. They were met on the red carpet by the Prince and Princess of Wales, before they all drove to Windsor.

A second royal greeting: In Windsor, the King and Queen met the Macrons on a stage, surrounded by household cavalry members.

The carriage procession: From there, the King and French president rode up to the castle in a royal carriage. They were followed by Brigitte and Queen Camilla in a second carriage, and the Prince and Princess of Wales in a third.

The significance: French President Emmanuel Macron is the first European leader to attend a state visit to the UK since Charles III was crowned, and since the UK left the EU. The visit involves ceremony, as well as politics, with the UK prime minister expected to meet Macron.

Coming up: The group will now have lunch in the castle and then tour French items of the Royal Collection. Macron will then head to London, to address MPs in the Houses of Parliament. He ends the busy day with a state banquet back at Windsor Castle.

French President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, were met with pomp and pageantry to kick off their three-day state visit to the UK.

Let's take a look at the latest images from the grand welcome.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from Windsor

Image source, Reuters

Brigitte Macron blew kisses to the crowd as the carriages swept through Windsor. The bands struck up the Marseillaise - the national anthem of France - as they passed the castle, with the procession moving at quite a pace.

The high street in Windsor is a lot narrower than the Mall, the usual route for such a procession, and it was an impressively close-up view for the onlookers as the carriages and the cavalry rattled past them.

Image source, Getty Images

Macron has just been escorted inside Windsor Castle by the King. They are joined by Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales.

They will now have lunch, before later touring curated items from the Royal Collection that relate to France.

Daniela Relph
Reporting from The Quadrangle in Windsor Castle

Image source, Getty Images

It was quite a spectacle to watch the military take up their positions in the Quad from our media position.

It is, of course, the first time in more than a decade there has been a state visit in Windsor.

The Captain of the Guard of Honour is Major Jake Sayers of the Grenadier Guards. He spoke in fluent French to President Macron – asking him to inspect the Guard.

As the Guard was being inspected by the president and the King, the Massed Band of the Grenadier Guards and the Scots Guards played “L’Entente Cordiale.”

It’s a piece of music that was composed 120 years ago when the Entente Cordiale treaty was signed between France and Britain.

French President Emmanuel Macron is smiling as he inspects the Royal Guards, followed by the King.

The pair are walking on the grounds at Windsor Castle, as Queen Camilla, Brigitte Macron and the Prince and Princess of Wales look on.

Image source, Reuters

The royal family and the Macrons have now exited their various carriages.

They are stood watching soldiers, who have formed orderly rows in front of them. Catherine and William are standing to the side.

Daniel Wittenberg
Reporting from Windsor

There were cheers and a couple of shouts of “Vive la France” as the carriage carrying King Charles and President Macron rode down Windsor’s high street outside Windsor Castle.

But perhaps the loudest - and certainly the highest pitched - was reserved for the third carriage carrying the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Many of the royal fans I had spoken to here before the procession mentioned how much they were looking forward to seeing Catherine in particular.

The King and the French president have now gone through the gates of Windsor Castle after an elaborate carriage procession through the town.

The pair are in the quadrangle of the building, where we can see the military form orderly lines.

Lunch is next on the agenda before Macron is expected to view a special exhibition of items relating to France from the Royal Collection.

Image source, Getty Images

Queen Camilla joins Brigitte Macron in a separate carriage, following behind the King and French president.

Behind them are the Prince and Princess of Wales in a third carriage.

Image source, Getty Images

King Charles III and French President Macron have set off on a carriage procession to Windsor Castle.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are also taking part in the procession in a separate carriage.

As a reminder, you can follow the events by clicking Watch Live above.

The wheels are set to turn on the royal carriage, as Macron will be taken on a ceremonial procession through Windsor alongside King Charles III.

The military and Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment are part of the elaborate procession, which will end inside the gates of the castle.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from Windsor

Image source, Getty Images

Queen Camilla is wearing a bright green outfit.

We're told the dress is by the designer Anna Valentine. She's a "couture atelier" and that's sort of French...

As we reported earlier, the Princess of Wales's outfit mixes French and British.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are now meeting Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron on a stage in Windsor, along with the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Rows of the Household Cavalry watch on outside the town's train station.

From there, the pairs will ride in a grand carriage procession to Windsor Castle for further engagements.

Image source, Getty Images