A huge table sixty meters long, dishes prepared by star chefs and served on Sèvres porcelain. Emmanuel Macron and the Presidency of the Republic did everything possible to receive Charles III this Wednesday on his first day in France.
The British monarch was received by the tenant of the Elysee at the Palace of Versailles, in the Hall of Mirrors, for a state dinner in which more than 150 people participated. Singers, actors, athletes, but also politicians and personalities from the economic world… all walked the red carpet of the Royal Court of the Palace of Versailles early in the afternoon.
“There was no very rigid protocol”
Among the audience, the legendary Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, the actor Hugh Grant, the actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, the head of the luxury group LVMH Bernard Arnault and the former footballer Patrick Vieira enjoyed a royal menu: blue lobster, poultry Bresse and pink macaroon.
A surprising table plan
All the guests were standing when Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte, King Charles III and Queen Camilla got to the bottom of classical music, according to a video published by the English media. Sun. Shortly before the start of the dinner, in the Royal Chapel, a short concert by the Swedish violinist Daniel Lozakovich was offered.
The British sovereign sat next to the President of the Republic. Queen Camilla was seated next to Emmanuel Macron, while Brigitte Macron was to the right of Charles III.
According to information from BFMTV, Hugh Grant sat to the right of the first lady. The actor said at the end of the evening that he found her “charming.” On the other hand, it was Gérard Larcher who stood to the left of Queen Camilla. To the left of the Senate president was Mick Jagger, it was reported.
The dinner took place in a relaxed atmosphere, according to the participants interviewed by BFMTV as they left the castle. In the Hall of Mirrors, the guests talked “about everything and nothing,” explains Stéphane Bern.
“We were talking about rugby with the president of the federation,” he said. Also on the sporting front, he saw Gunners fan Mick Jagger chatting with former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger.
Speaking to BFMTV, Stéphane Bern claimed to have been able to exchange “some kind words” with King Charles III. “We all took photos with Mick Jagger and Hugh Grant obviously,” the television presenter also says. “It wasn’t boring, there wasn’t a very rigid protocol. (…) I think people took more selfies than ever.”
The one who had already participated in the State dinner offered in 2014 in honor of Elizabeth II believes that the style of the evening “was much more relaxed” this Wednesday.
“It is wonderful”
“It was beautiful to see. (…) There was a pleasant and bright atmosphere,” confirmed Arsène Wenger, when Jack Lang spoke of a “warm and friendly” dinner. “Everyone was happy to meet the British and the British with the French,” declared the former Minister of Culture, who welcomed the speeches of Emmanuel Macron and Charles III, “two beautiful speeches.”
“It is wonderful to be in the Hall of Mirrors, to receive the King of England in the Hall of Mirrors, it is sensational,” Bernard Arnault also reacted.
Charles III urges France and the United Kingdom to “revitalize their friendship”
In a toast before the start of dinner, King Charles III urged France and the United Kingdom to “revitalize” their friendship. “It is up to us all to revitalize our friendship so that it is up to the challenges of the 21st century,” declared King Charles III at the end of the first day of a state visit under the sign of the relaunch of the Franco-British alliance. friendship.
“Despite Brexit, because what unites us comes from so far away and you are here today, Your Majesty, I know that we will continue to write together part of the future of our continent, to face the challenges and serve the causes that we propose. they have in common,” Emmanuel Macron told him.
This Thursday, the British sovereign will change the atmosphere, since in the morning he will address French parliamentarians in the Senate. His program also includes a visit to the square in front of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral.
Source: BFM TV
