King Charles III toasts UK-France 'entente cordiale' at grand dinner in Palace of Versailles

(20 Sep 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS VIA AGENCY POOL (REUTERS)
Versailles, France - September 20, 2023
1. King Charles III, French President Emmanuel Macron, Queen Camilla and First Lady Brigitte Macron arriving inside Hall of Mirrors and getting seated / Macron and Charles conversing
2. SOUNDBITE (French) Emmanuel Macron, French President:
"You know what affection the French people had for the Queen Elizabeth II your mother all throughout her life and her reign and how much we shared in the pain of the British people in their mourning. Tonight, we are thinking deeply about her and about Prince Philip in receiving you with the Queen (Camilla)."
3. Pan of Queen Camilla to King Charles III and Brigitte Macron
4. Cutaway of British musician Mick Jagger
5. SOUNDBITE (French) King Charles III:
"Today, our countries are united against oppression and in support of the most vulnerable, those who are suffering through the devastating effects of natural catastrophes or conflicts whether it is in Ukraine, Libya and in Morocco. Together we will strive to protect and restore our natural world and to combat the scourge of climate change."
++FOLLOWING SOUNDBITE IS NOT CONSECUTIVE FROM ITEM 6++
6. SOUNDBITE (French) King Charles III:
"Mr President, in all of this, you can count on our solid friendship that is renewing and revitalising itself with each new generation. Therefore if you would permit me, I would like to make a toast to Mr. President, Madame Macron, and the French people, as well as to our "entente cordiale" (cordial understanding/historical between UK and France) an entente for sustainable development. Can it only last, loyal and permanent throughout the centuries that await us against wind and tide." (Macrons, royal couple clink glasses, sit down at the table)
STORYLINE:
King Charles III of the United Kingdom hailed his country's "solid friendship" with France at a grand dinner held in his honor in the sumptuous Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles on the occasion of his state visit to the country.

The state visit is meant to highlight the renewed friendship between France and the U.K.

In his toast mostly pronounced in French, the new king said “you can count on our solid friendship that is renewing and revitalising itself with each new generation."

Charles and Camilla have been greeted with great pomp Wednesday in a ceremony at Paris' Arc de Triomphe by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte.

The trip to France was postponed in March amid widespread demonstrations against Macron’s pension changes.

Macron paid tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II and her late husband Philip.

Women in flowing gowns and men in tuxedos walked down a red carpet rolled out on the cobblestones of Versailles. Some of the guests paused and posed for photographers in a scene reminiscent of the Cannes Film Festival.

Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron appeared to have coordinated, wearing navy blue evening dresses.

Among those invited were British actor Hugh Grant, writer Ken Follett, Rolling Stones’ singer Mike Jagger, sport figures including football player Didier Drogba and the head of the Paris Olympics organisation committee, Tony Estanguet, as well as many CEOs and senior politicians.

The menu included blue lobster and crab followed by Bresse poultry and a gratin of cep mushrooms prepared, respectively, by French chefs Anne-Sophie Pic and Yannick Alléno. Both have been awarded three Michelin stars.


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