Britain's King Charles begins state visit to France

LONDON

King Charles III, accompanied by Queen Camilla, arrived in France on Wednesday as part of a three-day state visit.

The trip to France, the first since Charles' accession, was originally scheduled for March but was postponed due to protests over pension reforms introduced by President Emmanuel Macron's government.

"The visit will celebrate the United Kingdom’s relationship with France, marking our shared histories, culture and values," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

Joined by Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, the Royal couple's visit, which includes Paris and Bordeaux, will begin with a ceremony of remembrance and wreath laying at the Arc de Triomphe.

"You visited as a Prince, you return as a King. Your Majesty, welcome," Macron wrote on social media platform X, sharing a video footage featuring Charles' previous France visits as prince.

Charles ascended to the throne on Sept. 8, 2022, following the death of his long-serving mother Queen Elizabeth II.

On May 6, in the country's first coronation service in nearly 70 years, he was crowned along with Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey in London.