KATE will join William and the King and Queen at Windsor for the French State Visit next week – just days after opening up about her “rollercoaster” cancer recovery.
The Princess of Wales, 43, described the ongoing struggle of “cracking on” and putting on a “brave face” while speaking to cancer patients this week after she pulled out of Royal Ascot.
The Princess of Wales during a visit to the RHS’s Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital in Essex[/caption]
The Princess of Wales described the ongoing struggle of “cracking on” and putting on a “brave face” while speaking to cancer patients this week[/caption]
France’s President Emmanuel Macron next to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Macrons are expected to have lunch with the Starmers during the visit[/caption]
But she will return to ceremonial royal duties as French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte will receive the pomp and ceremony of a carriage ride and State Banquet at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, it has been confirmed.
It is the first State Visit to be held at Windsor since 2014 when Irish President Michael D Higgins was given the honour.
Buckingham Palace is out of action due to ongoing £369million renovation.
Donald Trump‘s expected State Visit in September is also expected to be at Windsor Castle.
Palace officials have confirmed William and Kate will greet the Macrons at RAF Northolt on Tuesday morning on behalf of the King and travel with them to Windsor.
Charles and Camilla will formally greet their guests on a Royal Dais constructed on Datchet Road in Windsor town centre, with the castle in the backdrop as gun salutes sound in nearby Home Park.
The King, the Queen, the Waleses and Macrons will then take a carriage procession through the town and along part of the Long Walk into the Castle.
A ceremonial welcome will be held in the castle’s quadrangle with Camilla, William, Kate and Mrs Macron watching as the King and President Macron inspect the Guard of Honour.
After lunch in the State Dining Room they will all view a special exhibition of items relating to France from the Royal Collection in the Green Drawing Room.
The Macrons will also travel to London on Tuesday afternoon to see the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey.
At the Houses of Parliament the French leader will address parliamentarians in the Royal Gallery, and meet opposition leaders at Lancaster House.
The King and president will both deliver speeches at the banquet on Tuesday evening.
Kensington Palace has yet to confirm whether or not the princess will attend the banquet in Windsor Castle’s St George’s Hall.
In a personal touch, the King and Queen will, on Wednesday, take the Macrons to see Fabuleu de Maucour, a 10-year-old grey gelding which Mr Macron gifted to known horse-lover the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee.
Fabuleu de Maucour belonged to the largely ceremonial French Republican Guard and was trained to carry the standard-bearer.
They will also view an elegant Charabanc carriage from the Royal Mews, which was a present to Queen Victoria from King Louis-Philippe of France in 1844.
And the Macrons will privately pay their respects at the late Queen’s tomb in St George’s Chapel by laying flowers in tribute.
Charles, Ranger of Windsor Great Park, will also invite the president to tour the Windsor Castle Gardens, including areas of nature restoration and biodiversity and the wider Great Park.
Wednesday will see the president and Mrs Macron join Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Lady Starmer for lunch at Downing Street, ahead of a UK-France summit at Number 10 on Thursday.
The King and Queen paid a state visit to France in September 2023 and enjoy a warm rapport with French leader and his wife, who will stay in the castle during their trip.
It is largely seen as a template for Trump’s visit in the autumn.
The last state visit to the UK from France was in March 2008 when the now-disgraced president Nicolas Sarkozy, since convicted of corruption and influence peddling, and his wife Carla Bruni, were the guests of Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor.
The Princess of Wales planting a rose during a visit to the RHS’s Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital in Essex[/caption]
The Princess of Wales during a visit to the RHS’s Wellbeing Garden[/caption]
The Princess of Wales at the RHS’s Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital[/caption]
