The King will stress the vital partnership between France and the UK in the face of a "multitude of complex threats" at the state banquet in honour of French President Emmanuel Macron. Charles will declare "as friends and as allies, we face them together" as he welcomes the French leader to Windsor Castle.
The monarch and Queen Camilla are set to welcome Macron and his wife Brigitte to the historic Berkshire castle on Tuesday as the French president begins his three-day state visit to the UK. At the glittering banquet, Charles will deliver a speech highlighting how "these challenges know no borders: no fortress can protect us against them this time".
King emphasises shared values
The King will tell Macron that Britain and France can help lead the way in confronting threats relating to defence, technology and climate change. He will emphasise that "our two nations share not only values, but also the tireless determination to act on them in the world".
Charles will reflect on 1,000 years of "shared history and culture between our two peoples" in his toast. The King will reveal how he remains "in awe of France's extraordinary attributes and achievements" and note how "for centuries our citizens have admired each other, amused each other, and imitated each other".
First EU visit since Brexit
This marks the first state visit to the UK by an EU head of state since Brexit. Macron will address parliamentarians in the Palace of Westminster's Royal Gallery and join a UK-France Summit at Downing Street on Thursday.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Labour) has signalled a "reset" in relations between the UK and Europe as he looks to heal the wounds caused by the Brexit years. Defence, growth, security, migration and French tactics on tackling small boats will be discussed during the visit.
Wales couple greet guests
The Prince and Princess of Wales will meet the president and French first lady at RAF Northolt on Tuesday morning on behalf of the King. They will travel together to Windsor where Charles and Camilla will formally greet their guests on a Royal Dais constructed on Datchet Road.
The King, Queen, the Waleses and the Macrons will then take a carriage procession through Windsor and along part of the Long Walk. Gun salutes will sound in nearby Home Park as the ceremonial welcome unfolds with the castle as backdrop.
Windsor hosts state visit
This is the first state visit to be hosted at Windsor Castle, rather than Buckingham Palace, in more than a decade since Irish President Michael D Higgins visited in 2014. State visits will be hosted at Windsor for the next few years while renovation work continues at the London palace.
The arrangements are likely to form the template for US President Donald Trump's high-profile state visit in September. However, much will depend on security considerations for the US leader, who survived an assassination attempt last year.
Banquet preparations complete
Some 160 guests will be seated at the elaborately decorated 50-metre table in the medieval St George's Hall for the banquet. The table will run the full length of the vast room where both the King and president will deliver speeches.
Kensington Palace has yet to confirm whether Kate will attend the banquet. The Princess of Wales opened up about her "rollercoaster" cancer recovery and its life-changing impact last week, describing putting on a "brave face" during treatment.
Ukraine discussions expected
The two leaders are expected to dial in to speak to other allied nations supporting any future peace deal in Ukraine. Downing Street said on Monday that the UK's relationship with France was "key" to dealing with boat crossings, following reports French police officers had used knives to puncture a boat off the coast.
Macron and his wife will also travel to London on Tuesday afternoon to see the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey. The French leader will address parliamentarians before meeting opposition leaders at Lancaster House.
Historic partnership renewed
The visit comes a year after the UK and France celebrated 120 years since the signing of the Entente Cordiale. The Anglo-French agreements in 1904 ushered in improved relations between the two countries which had fought against each other during the Napoleonic Wars.
The King and Queen paid a state visit to France in September 2023 and enjoy a warm rapport with the Macrons, who will stay in the castle during their trip. The last state visit to the UK from France was in March 2008 when the now-disgraced Nicolas Sarkozy, since convicted of corruption and influence peddling, and his wife Carla Bruni were guests of Elizabeth II at Windsor.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
