While we wait for King Charles and Queen Camilla to arrive at the Palace of Versailles for this evening's banquet, let's take a look back at what happened earlier - when the French president planted a tree in the garden of the British ambassador's residence in Paris to commemorate the King's state visit.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Sean Coughlan
Reporting from Paris

It’s a splendid setting at Versailles, with a military band ready serenading the guests in a huge courtyard.

This was Louis XIV’s glittering palace, far away from the heaving mobs in Paris.

And in a way it’s still in a state of splendid isolation for the state banquet, with lines of police and security checks stopping the public getting close.

So far the visit has been in a very secure and rather sanitised bubble. If the question is how the French public have reacted to the royal visit, it would be impossible to say because they haven’t really been allowed anywhere near it.

Image source, Getty

Mick Jagger is among the exclusive guest-list for a star-studded dinner with the King, and we've just spotted him arriving on the red carpet.

He's there with his partner, dancer Melanie Hamrick.

Sean Coughlan
Reporting from Paris

The warmth of the relationship between King Charles and President Macron has often been put down to a shared interest in protecting the environment.

It’s been the King’s passion for decades. And Prince William was banging the same eco-drum in New York this week.

But when the King and President Macron sat down for a chat this afternoon did they glance at the news of Rishi Sunak perhaps heading in a different direction on net zero?

It will add some more spice to any comments that the King makes about sustainability on this trip.

You can follow our live coverage of Sunak's speech and the reaction to it here.

Image source, Reuters

British acting royalty Hugh Grant has arrived at Versailles with his wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein ahead of a black tie dinner with King Charles, Queen Camilla and Emmanuel Macron.

France's culture minister Jack Lang and his wife, actress Monique Buczynski, were the first to be snapped on the red carpet a little earlier, and we've also seen French actress Carole Bouquet and British-French actress Emma Mackey.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

As we've been reporting, the King, Queen and the Macrons are having a black-tie dinner in the Palace of Versailles tonight.

They'll be joined by more than 160 notable names, including Hugh Grant, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Arsene Wenger and Didier Drogba.

They've just unfurled the red carpet outside the Palace, so expect some arrivals soon!

If you're just joining us, here's what's been happening:

• A few hours ago, King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Paris as they began their three-day state visit to France
• They went straight from the airport to the Arc de Triomphe where they met president Macron and his wife
• The King then re-lit the eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc before a minute's silence

• Next, he and French President Emmanuel Macron held talks at the Elysée Palace, which was followed by a brief walkabout where Charles greeted people on the street
• In the next hour, we expect to start seeing guests arrive at the Palace of Versailles, where Hugh Grant, Arsene Wenger and Didier Drogba will be among those joining the royal couple for a state banquet

Stay with us and we'll keep bringing you live updates.

Sean Coughlan
Reporting from Paris

King Charles’s present to President Macron is a special edition of a book by Voltaire, the philosopher and champion of free speech.

The book is Lettres sur les Anglais published in 1733.

In return, the French president gave the King a tree from Versailles and a golden medallion.

It’s much less weird than a present in the 1970s from French President Pompidou, who gave the Royal Family a drinks cooler in the shape of a giant grasshopper.

King Charles and French President Macron left Élysée Palace about an hour ago after their bilateral talks, and walked through the street to the residence of the British ambassador to France.

On the way, King Charles stopped to greet people who were waiting on the pavement.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Reuters

President Macron and first lady Brigitte welcomed Charles and Camilla on the first day of the royals' three-day visit to France.

Image source, Getty Images

King Charles speaks French with a heavier accent than his mother, French royal commentator Stéphane Bern says.

Speaking to the BBC earlier, Bern says the late Queen and the Queen Mother shared a deep love of France.

In his view, France was the only country outside the Commonwealth the late Queen loved - but for Charles, France shares his heart with Italy and Greece.

Regardless, Bern says, Charles’s love for France follows the tradition of his family and he has visited the country dozens of times.

President Macron and King Charles have now held their bilateral meeting in the Élysée Palace - and we can now bring you these photos.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

About an hour after King Charles and President Macron entered the Élysée Palace for talks - the King and French leader have re-emerged.

Soldiers from the Republican Guard stand to attention in formation to the side and down the steps of the palace.

The monarch and President Macron walked down the stairs, along the red carpet with King Charles now greeting well-wishers gathered behind barriers in the street.

Image source, AFP

Sean Coughlan
Reporting from Paris

Image source, Getty Images

A survey - which we mentioned earlier - of the attitudes of French and British people towards each other has some intriguing observations.

The French think that policing is better in Britain than in their own country. They also admire British universities.

But food, not so much? Only 10% of French people believe food is better in Britain, according to the survey of more than 2,000 people by Portland Communications. The French also see their own health service and their overall quality of life as better than in Britain.

In terms of current political concerns between the countries, migrants crossing the Channel in small boats is seen as the priority issue that needs to be resolved, in both Britain and France.

In both countries, Russia is seen as the biggest threat.

French media have shown a considerable interest in this state visit with many outlets highlighting the symbolism of it.

One publication says that both the French and British sides want to “revamp” bilateral relations.

Adelaide De Clermont-Tonnerre, managing editor of Point de Vue magazine, said the visit “comes in due time in an effort to rekindle the French-British friendship, which has degraded in recent years."

She adds: “The post-Brexit negotiations have been extremely difficult and particularly harsh.”

De Clermont-Tonnerre also pointed to remarks made last year by then-Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who said the "jury was still out" on whether French President Emmanuel Macron was “friend or foe” of the UK.

Image source, Reuters

Into the grounds of the Élysée Palace they go - greeted once again by the fanfare sound of a trumpet and the beat of a drum.

President Macron and King Charles pose for photos alongside Queen Camilla and French First Lady Brigitte Macron

They then head inside for the next stage of the three-day visit.

Stay with us, we’ll keep you updated.

Image source, Reuters

For those not familiar with the geography of central Paris, it is a relatively short journey from the Arc de Triomphe to the Élysée Palace.

A mounted cavalry of soldiers on horseback led the way down the iconic Champs-Élysée - which has been neatly decorated with Union Jack and French tricolore flags.

King Charles and President Macron followed behind in a black car, closely flanked by dozens of police officers on motorbikes.

Although crowds have been kept back at some distance, people could be heard cheering.

The royal couple are now arriving at the palace, pausing for photos with Macron and his wife on the red carpet.

Sean Coughlan
Reporting from Paris

There was a small grandstand at the Arc de Triomphe with some invited guests and the King was straight over shaking hands.

He does look much happier when he can meet people. On visits he often seems more energised by the crowds rather than the dignitaries.

Image source, Getty Images

In the lead-up to today's meeting, an Élysée official told Reuters: "There are links of friendship and trust, and the two have spoken many times, especially over the past year."

They last met in May when Macron travelled to London for the King's Coronation. Last year, Macron gifted the him a book of pictures celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's visits to France.

The pair have connected in their past over environmental issue - in 2020, the then-Prince-of-Wales hosted Macron at an event marking the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle’s Appeal, and the two were widely reported to have struck up a long conversation about environmental issues.

The following year, at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, the King and Macron co-hosted an environmental working group.