Summary

  • President Emmanuel Macron tells Parliament the UK and France have a duty to tackle illegal migration "with humanity, solidarity and firmness"

  • Speaking on the first day of his state visit, he says "we cannot allow our countries' rules for taking in people to be flouted and criminal networks to cynically exploit the hopes of so many individuals"

  • Macron and his wife Brigitte will attend a state banquet in Windsor Castle this evening along with the King and Queen and Princess of Wales

  • Earlier King Charles and the French president led a carriage procession through Windsor and carried out a ceremonial inspection of guards - here's the visit in pictures

  • Macron and PM Keir Starmer will hold meetings from Wednesday aimed at tackling small boats crossing the Channel - Downing Street says it expects "good progress" during the three day visit

Media caption,

Watch: Royalty and carriage rides on day one of Macron's state visit

  1. Macron lays wreath at tomb of Unknown Warriorpublished at 15:54 British Summer Time
    Breaking

    Macron crouching to touch a wreath at the foot of a tomb. Two soldiers salute, his wife stands behind him and a clergy member stands holding a bookImage source, Reuters

    As we've been reporting, Macron is visiting Westminster Abbey ahead of his address to Parliament today.

    The French president is laying a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior. He died in the First World War, and the grave contains French soil.

    The grave is a memorial to the dead of World War One, particularly those who have no known grave.

  2. Macron arrives at Westminster Abbeypublished at 15:49 British Summer Time
    Breaking

    The President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron arrive for a visit to Westminster Abbey, central London, on day one of the French President's state visit to the UK.Image source, PA Media

    Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have arrived at London's Westminster Abbey. They are there to pay their respects at the grave of the Unknown Warrior.

    Crowds of people are stood outside, trying to get a glimpse of the French president.

    Macron and Brigitte walking arm in arm alongside a bishop
  3. Enthusiasm turned to dismay: Labour peer recalls 1980s French state visitpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time

    Iain Watson
    Political correspondent, reporting from Westminster

    Elizabeth II, Mitterrand and Philip at a decorated dining tableImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    The late Queen Elizabeth II dined with Francois Mitterrand and Prince Philip during a 1984 state visit

    Another French president who was given a state visit was Francois Mitterrand in 1984.

    Lord Robertson - the former Labour defence secretary - tells me his party’s left-wing MPs turned out in numbers to greet the French socialist party leader.

    But enthusiasm turned to dismay when he waxed lyrical about the "force de frappe" - the French nuclear deterrent - when support for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) was at its zenith in the UK.

  4. Peers gather ahead of Macron's address to Parliamentpublished at 15:44 British Summer Time

    Iain Watson
    Political correspondent, reporting from Westminster

    Macron looks ahead, eyebrows raised.Image source, Getty Images

    President Macron will soon address members of both Houses of Parliament in Westminster.

    Peers have assembled in the elaborately decorated Royal Gallery and MPs are on their way.

    On his visit, President Zelensky addressed MPs and peers not here, but in Westminster Hall.

    Perhaps that would have been a more diplomatic venue for hosting a French president - as the stand-out features of the Royal Gallery are two enormous, CinemaScope-sized paintings of... the battles of Trafalgar and Waterloo.

  5. Downing Street expects to make good progress on small boat crossingspublished at 15:31 British Summer Time

    Damian Grammaticas
    Political correspondent

    A Maritime Gendarmerie rib approaches a small boat full of migrants heading in to the English Channel.Image source, Getty Images

    Downing Street says it expects to make "good progress" on tackling small boat crossings during Macron's time in the UK.

    The spokesperson says they won't speculate about the possibility of a deal allowing the UK to return some migrants to France, but says "our joint work with the French is as strong as it's ever been".

    Asked whether the UK, as the Conservatives have suggested, should demand a refund of the £800m paid to France to try to stop the crossings, the spokesperson says they've "secured a significant ramping up of the operational capabilities from French law enforcement".

    "This year alone, 12,000 crossing attempts have been prevented. Specialist French intelligence units are operating across the beaches and, for the first time ever, their officers are preparing to intervene in shallow waters," they add.

    The spokesperson emphasises that there is "no one single solution" to small boat crossings, but says the government is "securing agreements and levels of joint working that have never been seen before with the French".

  6. How King Charles will help rebuild the UK-France friendshippublished at 15:13 British Summer Time

    Paul Kirby
    Europe digital editor

    Macron and Charles wear suits and walk ahead.Image source, Gett

    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.

  7. Macrons shown French-themed items from Royal Collectionpublished at 15:04 British Summer Time

    Sean Coughlan
    Royal correspondent, reporting from Windsor

    King Charles III and Queen Camilla with the President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron view items on display during a visit to the Royal Collection exhibition, in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.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.

    The Prince and Princess of Wales view items on display during the President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife's visit to the Royal Collection exhibition.Image source, Reuters
  8. State visits are 'soft power' opportunitiespublished at 14:51 British Summer Time

    Mallory Moench & Sean Coughlan
    BBC News

    King Charles III (right) with the President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron view items on display during a visit to the Royal Collection exhibition, in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on day one of the French President's state visit to the UKImage 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.

  9. From Windsor to Westminster: A busy schedule for Macron todaypublished at 14:06 British Summer Time

    Map showing the locations of Winsor Castle, RAF Northolt and the Houses of Parliament

    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.

  10. First state visit by a French president since 2008published at 13:51 British Summer Time

    Queen Elizabeth, in a cream coloured jacket, wears a hat with feathers coming out of it and she shakes the hand of French First lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. To the Queen's left is her late husband, Prince Philip, who looks on smiling. French President Nicolas Sarkozy stands to the right of the group and smiles as his wife is greeted by the QueenImage source, AFP via Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip greet the former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy at Windsor Castle in March 2008

    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.

  11. Analysis

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

    James Landale
    Diplomatic correspondent

    Macron and Charles smile at each other.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.

  12. Cheers, carriages and ceremony: Macron's state visit so farpublished at 13:23 British Summer Time

    Imogen James
    Live reporter

    Queen Camilla, King Charles III, President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, at the Ceremonial Welcome for his state visit to the UK.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 Parliament. He ends the busy day with a state banquet back at Windsor Castle.

  13. Royals greet French president with smiles and pageantrypublished at 13:08 British Summer Time

    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.

    Macron kisses Kate's handImage source, Reuters
    All four stand on stageImage source, Getty Images
    Macron and Charles speak while sitting in a carriage.Image source, Getty Images
    Kate , William and Brigitte smile on stage.Image source, Getty Images
    Camilla, Charles, Macron and Brigitte stand during a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle.Image source, Getty Images
  14. Brigitte Macron blew kisses to crowd during carriage processionpublished at 12:52 British Summer Time

    Sean Coughlan
    Royal correspondent, reporting from Windsor

    Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron in an open-topped carriageImage 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.

  15. French president heads into Windsor Castlepublished at 12:44 British Summer Time

    Camilla, Charles, Emmanuel, Brigitte walk in a line followed by Kate and WilliamImage 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.

  16. Guard of Honour was quite the spectaclepublished at 12:43 British Summer Time

    Daniela Relph
    Reporting from The Quadrangle in Windsor Castle

    The King and president inspect the Guard of HonourImage 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.

  17. Macron inspects Royal Guards alongside Kingpublished at 12:35 British Summer Time

    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.

    Charles and Macron walking in front of royal guard
  18. Royals and Macrons stand together at Windsor Castlepublished at 12:29 British Summer Time

    Royals stood with Macrons in a tent watching soldiers as carriages driven past themImage 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.

  19. Crowds cheer 'Vive la France' as carriage procession makes way to castlepublished at 12:27 British Summer Time

    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.

    A carriage with the Prince and Princess of Wales passes by the crowd with the castle in the background
  20. Royal procession heads into Windsor Castlepublished at 12:26 British Summer Time

    Carriage being driven inside grounds of Windsor

    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.

    Soldiers inside a square in the middle of a castle