French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday began a three-day state visit to Britain, aimed at strengthening ties with both the United Kingdom government and the monarchy, in what Downing Street described as a “historic” occasion.
Macron’s visit includes high-level meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who, since taking office in 2024, has vowed to mend relationships with European capitals after years of Brexit-driven friction. Their discussions are expected to centre on supporting war-ravaged Ukraine, boosting defence spending, and intensifying joint efforts to curb migrant crossings of the Channel — a highly charged political issue in Britain.
This trip marks the first state visit by an EU head of state since the UK’s contentious departure from the bloc in 2020, and the first by a French president since Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008.
Calling the occasion “historic,” Starmer’s office said the visit would highlight “the breadth of the existing relationship” between the two countries. It added that Starmer intended to “aim to drive forward progress on tackling irregular migration, enhancing our defence and security co-operation and boosting trade and investment.”
Macron is also looking to reinforce what is widely seen as a warm relationship with King Charles III. The king, described as a Francophile, has previously called Britain’s ties with France “indispensable,” and the two men are believed to share a good rapport. In 2023, Charles made a state visit to France, one of his first after ascending the throne, which was widely regarded as a success.
Windsor ceremony
Upon arriving in Britain, Macron and his wife, Brigitte, were welcomed at the airport by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, before travelling to Windsor Castle for formal engagements with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
During the visit, the French president and his wife will be treated to the full display of British pageantry, including a luncheon and a lavish banquet at the castle.
According to remarks released by Buckingham Palace ahead of the banquet, King Charles will tell Macron: “Our two countries face a multitude of complex threats, emanating from multiple directions. As friends and as allies, we face them together. Our two nations share not only values, but also the tireless determination to act on them in the world.”
Macron will also join the ranks of past French presidents Charles de Gaulle and Francois Mitterrand by addressing lawmakers at the UK parliament.
Strategic talks
On Wednesday, Macron is scheduled to have lunch with Starmer. The following day, the two leaders will co-host the 37th Franco-British Summit, where discussions will likely explore fresh opportunities to deepen defence cooperation.
Britain and France are leading talks within a 30-nation coalition on ways to support a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, including considerations of deploying peacekeeping forces. Starmer’s office confirmed on Monday that both leaders would dial in to a meeting of the coalition on Thursday “to discuss stepping up support for Ukraine and further increasing pressure on Russia.”
They will also hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, according to the French presidency.
The thorny issue of irregular migration will feature prominently in Macron’s discussions with Starmer. The British prime minister is under intense domestic pressure to reduce the number of migrants crossing the Channel, with Nigel Farage’s hard-right Reform UK party leveraging the issue to gain ground politically.
London has long urged Paris to do more to stop boats from departing northern French beaches, and last Friday it welcomed footage showing French police preventing one such vessel from setting off.
Possible tapestry deal
Meanwhile, speculation is mounting that Macron might use the visit to revive his previous pledge to loan the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain. The tapestry, which depicts the 1066 Norman conquest of England, was initially offered on loan by Macron in 2018, but the plan has since stalled.
The UK government on Monday said it continued to “work closely with our counterparts in France on its planned loan,” suggesting the historic embroidery could yet make its way across the Channel.
