The King and Queen will undertake a State Visit to France
Published
The King and Queen will undertake a State Visit to France, from Wednesday 20th to Friday 22nd September 2023.
The visit will celebrate the United Kingdom’s relationship with France, marking our shared histories, culture and values.
Themes and Programme Details
The State Visit will highlight the strength of the U.K.’s bilateral relationship with France, demonstrating the many ways the two countries are working together, whether that be to promote and protect biodiversity, combat climate change, strengthen security and defence ties in response to the conflict in Ukraine or recognise outstanding literary achievement. Their Majesties’ visit will also include engagements highlighting sustainability and the power of community – key themes of importance to the citizens of both our nations.
The State Visit Programme
Their Majesties will travel to France on Wednesday 20th September and depart on Friday 22nd, undertaking engagements in Paris and Bordeaux. Highlights of their French programme will include:
In Paris:
- The King and Queen will join President and Mrs. Macron for a ceremony of Remembrance and wreath laying at the Arc de Triomphe, marking the shared sacrifices of the past and an enduring legacy of cooperation.
- His Majesty will have a bilateral meeting with President Macron at the Elysée Palace.
- Their Majesties will be guests of honour at a State Banquet hosted at the Palace of Versailles by President and Mrs. Macron.
- Their Majesties will meet community sports groups and well-known sports stars, to show the benefits sport can bring, particularly to young people, as France hosts the Rugby World Cup.
- The King will address Senators and members of the National Assembly at the French Senate.
- The Queen, together with Mrs. Macron, will launch a new Franco-British literary prize at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
- His Majesty and President Macron will attend a sustainability reception for British and French business leaders, to hear more about their plans to invest to protect biodiversity and combat climate change.
In Bordeaux:
- His Majesty will meet emergency workers and communities affected by the 2022 Bordeaux wildfires, at the Forêt Experimentale, a site designed to monitor the responses of urban forests to climate change.
- Their Majesties will meet U.K. and French military personnel to hear more about how the two nations are collaborating on defence.
- The King and Queen will attend a GREAT campaign event in Bordeaux, which will showcase British and French businesses and will provide an opportunity for Their Majesties to meet members of the French and British communities in the city.
- The Royal couple will tour an organic vineyard, which has pioneered a sustainable approach to wine making.
Le Roi et la Reine effectueront une visite d'État en France, du mercredi 20 au vendredi 22 septembre 2023.
La visite célébrera les relations du Royaume-Uni avec la France, en soulignant notre histoire, notre culture et nos valeurs communes.
Thèmes et détails du programme (sous embargo jusqu'au 6 septembre 2023 à 12h00) :
La visite d'État soulignera la force des relations bilatérales entre le Royaume-Uni et la France, en mettant en exergue les nombreuses façons dont les deux pays travaillent ensemble, que ce soit pour promouvoir et protéger la biodiversité, lutter contre le changement climatique, renforcer les liens en matière de sécurité et de défense en réponse au conflit en Ukraine ou reconnaître des réalisations littéraires exceptionnelles. La visite de Leurs Majestés comprendra également des engagements mettant l'accent sur le développement durable et le pouvoir de la communauté - des thèmes essentiels pour les citoyens de nos deux nations.
Le programme de la visite d'État
Leurs Majestés se rendront en France du mercredi 20 au vendredi 22 septembre, avec des engagements à Paris et à Bordeaux. Les points forts de leur programme français seront les suivants :
À Paris :
- Le Roi et La Reine se joindront au Président et à Mme Macron pour une cérémonie de la commémoration et un dépôt de gerbes à l'Arc de Triomphe, marquant les sacrifices partagés du passé et un héritage durable de coopération.
- Sa Majesté aura une réunion bilatérale avec le Président Macron au Palais de l'Elysée.
- Leurs Majestés seront les invités d'honneur d'un banquet d'État au château de Versailles offert par le Président et Mme Macron.
- Leurs Majestés rencontreront des groupes sportifs et des stars du sport, afin de souligner les bienfaits du sport pour les jeunes, alors que la France accueille la Coupe du monde de rugby.
- Le Roi s'adressera aux sénateurs et aux députés de l'Assemblée nationale au Sénat français.
- La Reine et Mme Macron lanceront un nouveau prix littéraire franco-britannique à la Bibliothèque nationale de France.
- Sa Majesté et le Président Macron assisteront à une réception sur le développement durable pour les chefs d'entreprise britanniques et français, afin d'en savoir plus sur leurs plans d'investissement pour protéger la biodiversité et lutter contre le changement climatique.
À Bordeaux :
- Sa Majesté rencontrera les services d’urgence et les communautés touchées par les incendies de forêt de Bordeaux en 2022, à la Foret expérimentale, un site conçu pour surveiller les réactions des forêts urbaines au changement climatique.
- Leurs Majestés rencontreront des militaires britanniques et français pour en savoir plus sur la collaboration entre les deux nations en matière de défense.
- Le Roi et La Reine assisteront à un événement de la campagne GREAT à Bordeaux, qui présentera des entreprises britanniques et françaises et permettra à Leurs Majestés de rencontrer des membres des communautés française et britannique de la ville.
- Le couple Royal visitera un vignoble biologique, le premier à adopter une approche durable de la production de vin.
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