In pictures: King Charles and Queen Camilla on state visit to France
![](https://english.alsiasi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/King-Charles-III-Queen-Camilla-arrive-in-France-for-three-day-state-visit-780x470.jpg)
On Wednesday, King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in France for a state visit.
![King Charles and Queen Camilla disembark their aircraft upon arrival at the Orly Airport in France](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/99DF/production/_131219393_charlesvisit2-miguelmedina-pool.jpg)
The three-day trip began with the King and Queen touching down at Orly airport, near Paris.
They were greeted by the French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, before driving to a ceremonial welcome at the Arc De Triomphe in Paris.
![French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne welcomes the King and Queen upon their arrival at the Orly Airport](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/C0EF/production/_131219394_22745b9701f7449c35aee96338b7536d1865f36b.jpg)
At the Arc de Triomphe, the King and Queen were greeted by the French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte.
![Emmanuel Macron his wife Brigitte Macron welcome King Charles III and Queen Camilla for an official welcoming ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/E7FF/production/_131219395_gettyimages-1677311561.jpg)
During the ceremonial welcome, King Charles performed the re-kindling of the eternal flame using the Comite de la Flamme passed to him by Mr Macron.
![King Charles III performs the re-kindling of the eternal flame using the Comite de la Flamme passed to him by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron during a ceremonial welcome at The Arc De Triomphe](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/10F0F/production/_131219396_3aa39c8172e5ba86ee192d5120c6c52c927b3353.jpg)
French Air Force elite acrobatic flying team Patrouille de France and the RAF Red Arrows performed a flypast during the ceremony.
![French Air Force elite acrobatic flying team Patrouille de France (PAF) and the Royal Air Force's aerobatic team the Red Arrows perform a fly past](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/15D2F/production/_131219398_gettyimages-1677343648.jpg)
After these events the King and Queen travelled to the Elysee Palace, where the King and the French President held a bilateral meeting.
The King then met members of the public on a walk from the Elysee Palace to the residence of the British Ambassador to France.
![King Charles greets people during a walk from the Elysee Palace to the residence of the British ambassador to France](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/01EB/production/_131219400_a9176c1d357b6c7a4e2707993b1e1928a4a04eea.jpg)
Following a tradition set by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, the King joined President Macron for a ceremonial tree-planting in the garden of the British Ambassador’s Residence.
![King Charles and President Macron plant an oak tree at the British Ambassador's residence](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/28FB/production/_131219401_b874ce16a9cafdf14b0190afcc2cce98f6250511.jpg)
On Wednesday evening there was a state dinner for the King and Queen at the Palace of Versailles.
Actor Hugh Grant was among the guests, attending with his wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein.
![Hugh Grant and his wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein arrive to attend a state dinner in honour of Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Chateau de Versailles](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/500B/production/_131219402_173810254fd89ed95676b94f45ce3e6a9d54295e.jpg)
Ivorian footballer Didier Drogba and his partner Gabrielle Lemaire joined the dinner at the Palace of Versailles.
![Didier Drogba and Gabrielle Lemaire arrive to attend the state dinner](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/B1B3/production/_131219454_4b3300a935062615e1a44aa1386194c55adcb0b8.jpg)
Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, and his partner Melanie Hamrick were also on the guest list.
![Mick Jagger and his partner US choreographer Melanie Hamrick arrive to attend a state banquet at the Palace of Versailles](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/D8C3/production/_131219455_gettyimages-1677812921.jpg)
French-British actress Emma Mackey looked pleased to be in attendance as she walked into the palace.
![French-British actor Emma Mackey arrives at the Palace of Versailles before a state banquet hosted by the French president and his wife in honour of the British king and queen, in Versailles, France, on 20 September 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/135BE/production/_131149297_2bfb0ec7605354a78a93b2f3593649937a682970.jpg)
The King and Queen then arrived at the Palace of Versailles, walking in with the French president and First Lady.
![Brigitte Macron, Queen Camilla, King Charles III and French President Emmanuel Macron attending the State Banquet at the Palace of Versailles, Paris](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/15CCE/production/_131149298_gettyimages-1678287848.jpg)
At the state banquet the King raised a toast to the president and First Lady, the French people, and the entente cordiale between Britain and France.
![King Charles III and French President Emmanuel Macron drink from glasses at a state banquet at the Palace of Versailles](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/FE82/production/_131145156_037018588e06f8c80b5b044c4af9df82f0c3f4f90_0_6000_40001000x667.jpg)
There were toasts all round.
Guests enjoyed their meal in the impressive interior of the Palace of Versailles.
![Guests attending the State Banquet at the Palace of Versailles, Paris, during the state visit to France by Britain's King and Queen on 20 September 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/16372/production/_131149909_gettyimages-1678295414.jpg)
On day two, King Charles was greeted by Senators and members of the National Assembly at the French Senate.
![French Senators and members of the National Assembly greet King Charles at the French Senate in Paris](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/FFD3/production/_131219456_331a7d1adbc8d261dffd28caedc48f828da327c4.jpg)
He made a historic speech, the first time a member of the British Royal Family has spoken from the Senate Chamber.
![King Charles addresses Senators and members of the National Assembly at the French Senate](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/126E3/production/_131219457_753a2832bf0fb2b66dc8d29099806aeb1bdbb907.jpg)
The King was greeted with a round of applause and left to a standing ovation.
![King Charles waves to members of parliament after he delivered his speech](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/14DF3/production/_131219458_d9595cba9d30c9e482b6cde299e6d0070f092252.jpg)
Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron visited the Bibliotheque nationale de France (BnF) in Paris.
They launched a new UK-France literary prize, the Entente Litteraire Prize.
![Queen Camilla makes a speech during her visit to the Bibliotheque nationale de France](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/600F/production/_131219542_6a324b09-f5ab-4574-bc20-8235348c2b58.jpg)
At the reception the Queen shared a joke with British actor Celia Imrie.
![Queen Camilla shares a joke with Celia Imrie at the reception](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/17503/production/_131219459_bd0ce6f205dd6723095bcfe2c389166f8850d2d3.jpg)
King Charles and Queen Camilla met French sport stars and local youth sports associations in Saint-Denis, in the northern suburbs of Paris.
Charles was offered a Paris Saint Germain jersey by the club president Nasser al-Khelaifi.
![Paris Saint Germain's president Nasser al-Khelaifi offers King Charles a club jersey during the visit to Saint-Denis](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/195B/production/_131219460_ce7e347172444c53565606fbbcb5bab9fa22bb8a.jpg)
While the Queen enjoyed a game of table tennis.
![Queen Camilla plays table tennis next to King Charles and Brigitte Macron](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/406B/production/_131219461_bd76328128759ec57e72ff99691ab7bc856593eb.jpg)
The King and Queen visited a flower market in Paris, named after the late Queen Elizabeth II who was there on a state visit in 2014.
![King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla visit the central Paris Flower Market.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/677B/production/_131219462_277964961258d96e3454455251f4147bd0020586.jpg)
Rain did not seem to dampen the mood as the Royal couple met people in the street afterwards.
![Queen Camilla shakes hands with people as she walks in a street](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/8E8B/production/_131219463_8048cffae6de399a94927361e268f0329e66e7d5.jpg)
All photographs subject to copyright.