Wilson Adekumola
The United Kingdom government has insisted that King Charles III would still pay visit to France next week despite social unrest rocking the country, saying there are no plans to shelve the visit.
The UK’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak’s Spokesman, while speaking with journalists, said, “We certainly don’t get into the realms of dictating that sort of thing to His Majesty. That will be a decision for them.”
He added, “I’m not aware of any plans to change the plan.”
It was gathered that King Charles and his wife Camilla are due to be in France from Sunday to Wednesday, and then in Germany, for the first state visits abroad of his reign following the death last September of Queen Elizabeth II.
It was also said that Charles will join President Emmanuel Macron for a ceremony of remembrance at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and for a banquet at the Palace of Versailles, before heading on to Bordeaux in the southwest.
Some French opposition politicians have disputed whether he would still proceed with the trip due to anti-Macron protesters clash with riot police. Charles risks facing rubbish-strewn streets and transport strikes.
“We are keeping an eye on how things are developing politically and the security situation,” a source at the British embassy in Paris told Agence France-Presse.
“That will continue right up to the visit.”
