As the King and Queen Camilla escorted the French president and his wife Brigitte into Windsor Castle, Emmanuel Macron was once again snubbed by his wife as he attempted to hold her hand for the second time today
Emmanuel Macron has once again been brutally ignored by his wife during the first day of the French state visit to the UK. Just hours after arriving at RAF Northolt, the French president and his wife joined Prince William, Princess Kate, King Charles and Queen Camilla for an official welcome at Windsor Castle.
After the King and Macron had inspected the Guards of Honour, the monarch and the French leader, accompanied by Queen Camilla and Brigitte, made their way into Windsor Castle, followed closely by the Prince and Princess of Wales. As Macron and King Charles walked, Macron attempted to reach for his wife’s hand in a symbol of affection, with Brigitte ignoring his advances for the second time today.
Macron leaned in to try to reach Brigitte’s hand but to no avail, leaving him to drop his hand and continue walking. The brutal snub is the second time today that Brigitte has rejected her husband’s hand, as she also refused to offer his helping hand while disembarking their private jet when landing in the UK.
When the French president and his wife were leaving the plane to greet Prince William and Princess Kate, Brigitte held onto the handrail to steady herself on the plane’s stairs.
Macron reached out to offer his hand of support, which Brigitte denied as she held firmly onto the railing, while her husband turned to greet the royals.
As Macron and Brigette sat in their car to begin their journey to Windsor, the couple seemed frosty as Macron busied himself with paperwork while Brigette took her phone out of her handbag.
The tense encounter comes just weeks after Brigitte appeared to slap Macron in the face during a heated argument on an official tour in Vietnam. In footage at Hanoi airport when the couple arrived in late May, Macron’s profile can be seen through the door of his official plane.
Seconds later, his wife Brigitte quickly raised a hand to his face, and appeared to strike him. The French president looked stunned and turned to wave to onlookers and media outside, before the couple began to walk down the staircase.
The French state visit will continue for the next two days, with Macron and Brigitte joining King Charles and Queen Camilla for a viewing of the Royal Collection exhibition at Windsor Castle later today.
The King and president will both deliver speeches at a state banquet this evening in the medieval St George’s Hall at the Castle, where some 160 guests will be seated at the elaborately decorated 50 metre table, which will run the full length of the vast room.