After touring the luxurious halls of Versailles and admiring the Elysee Palace, the British royal couple wandered around the capital. King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla were able to rediscover some emblematic places in Paris, such as Notre-Dame Square, but also the 19M workshop, the mecca of French luxury.
Charles III also marked the history of British sovereigns, being the first monarch to speak in the Senate before French parliamentarians. A speech intended to consolidate the Paris-London relationship.
• The king before the Senate
The strongest moment of the day was also one of the first. Charles III, speaking before French parliamentarians for about twenty minutes. He spoke of the sweet memory of his mother Elizabeth II, her unwavering support for Ukraine and, of course, the importance of the Franco-British bond.
“When my mother died last year, my family and I were greatly moved by the tributes paid to her throughout France,” declared King Charles III in the chamber.
This speech is all the more symbolic as it was the first speech by a British sovereign to French parliamentarians. And this, before addressing the parliamentarians of his own kingdom. A speech received with a “standing ovation.”
• A discreet visit to the Basilica of Saint-Denis and a ping-pong duel
The royal couple was received this Thursday morning by Brigitte Macron in Saint-Denis. They visited the Legion of Honor hall and met with associations such as “La Maison des femmes” and “objective employment”.
Still in Saint-Denis, the royal couple was able to visit the basilica. They stayed away from the cameras and met with religious dignitaries.
However, the highlight of this visit was most unusual. During a “sports” sequence, the French and curious onlookers were able to watch a ping-pong duel between the First Lady and the Queen Consort. France won the match, due to the difficulties encountered in the service.
• A step towards Parisian luxury
The royal couple discovered the Galerie du 19M, located on the Porte d’Aubervilliers, in the 19th arrondissement, a place dedicated to artistic trades linked to fashion. This place, created at the initiative of the luxury giant Chanel, brings together eleven art houses, including the jeweler Goosens and the embroiderer Lesage.
A not inconsiderable fact given the circumstances, the First Lady wore an expensive 3/4 Chanel jacket this Thursday. The day before, Brigitte Macron and Camilla wore an LVMH outfit, while Bernard Arnault was invited to the Versailles dinner.
• Rain, the return of an old enemy of the crown
During Queen Elizabeth II’s last visit to Paris in 2014, she had to cut short her visit to the Flower Market, a place she loved so much and which has since been named after her.
The rain, that old enemy of the crown, once again splashed the visit of the sovereigns, who visited the place, accompanied by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, and several umbrellas.
King Charles, passionate about botany and gardening, especially valued this part of the visit. He also received some gifts, a photograph of his late mother, as well as a bouquet for his wife.
Source: BFM TV
