Overview

• Tuesday’s state banquet at Windsor Castle featured speeches by King Charles III and President Emmanuel Macron and marked Princess Catherine’s first return to royal duty since her cancer diagnosis.
• President Macron delivered a speech in the Royal Gallery of the British Parliament, where he pledged continued support for Ukraine and announced plans to loan the Bayeux Tapestry to the British Museum.
• The Macrons’ visit is the first by a European head of state since Brexit and uses Windsor Castle for ceremonies while Buckingham Palace undergoes renovations.
• Today Macron meets Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other senior officials in London to pursue enhanced defense collaboration and discuss an asylum agreement on Channel crossings.
• Princess Catherine’s surprise attendance at the banquet highlighted her return to public duties and underscored the monarchy’s diplomatic role alongside Prince William in hosting the state visit.