Everything is ready for a visit by King Charles III to Paris.
Behind the scenes, French diplomats are busy preparing for the state visit – the highest degree between two countries – of the eldest son of Elizabeth II.
The invitation had been launched by Emmanuel Macron at the time of the funeral of the queen.
“I had the opportunity to invite King Charles to come to France when it is appropriate for him,” said the Head of State on September 16.
The message seems to have been fully heard.
The track on which the executive advisers are currently working is that of an event with great fanfare, in the week of March 27.
At the Élysée, a state dinner is planned, village hall.
A program is also in preparation between the first lady Brigitte Macron and Camilla Parker Bowles.
A symbolic visit embodying the causes carried by these two personalities could be considered (school visit, hospital visit, etc.).
The National Assembly was also mobilized for a formal stopover for the British sovereign.
A meeting with the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, could take place, as is customary.
“It is an extremely strong symbol”
The arrival of the king is highly appreciated by Paris: “It is an extremely strong symbol because it will be the first official visit of Charles III.
This coming comes when the king is not yet crowned, which shows that France is a priority for him, ”underlines an adviser to the executive.
Charles III and his wife are to be crowned on May 6, 2023.
"This visit is an opportunity to show the age-old attachment of his country to ours, beyond Brexit, and to be part of the family continuity, because Elizabeth II was Francophile and French-speaking", underlines a deputy of the majority , which closely follows the subject.
On the sidelines of the funeral, Emmanuel Macron had also offered Charles III a photo album of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Versailles in 1957.
A Franco-British summit should be held in France ahead of the state visit, in March, between representatives of the two executives.
There will be no shortage of hot issues: migrants, security in the Channel Canal, fishing, Ukraine, relations with the European Union.
Contacted by our newspaper, the British Embassy in France did not wish to confirm either the date or even the principle of a visit, before returning to Buckingham Palace for any formalization.
