The French president has blown kisses at the King and Queen as he bid farewell to the monarch outside Windsor Castle, concluding the royals involvement in the three-day state visit with a flurry of goodbyes and well wishes
French President Emmanuel Macron blew the King and Queen a kiss as he said an official farewell to them outside Windsor Castle. The President and his wife Brigitte showered the Royal family with thanks for their welcome to Windsor Castle, as he repeated the King’s new phrase of “Entente Amicale” in celebration as they left.
The King and President Macron shook hands, holding on for 28 seconds, as they said their goodbyes. Macron gripped Charles’ upper arm tightly, patting him throughout a genial conversation in the Sovereign’s Entrance of the castle. Mr Macron has raised eyebrows last night at the glittering State Banquet at Windsor Castle for winking at the Princess of Wales following a toast to mark the occasion.
But the Queen and Mrs Macron were on the most tactile of terms as they each gave double kisses on the cheek and lent in closely for a final few words, appearing to make arrangements for a future encounter with Camilla’s private secretary. President Macron also gave the Queen a kiss, holding her upper arm before the couples parted.
In their final words, Macron repeated the King’s phrase from last night’s State Banquet to say “Entente Amicale!” to which the King threw up his hands in happy acknowledgement.
The quartet had spent a final morning together at Windsor Castle before the Macrons travel to London for other engagements, including lunch in Downing Street with Sir Keir Starmer.
The King and President took a tour of the castle gardens together, enjoying themselves so much that they kept the Queen and Mrs Macron waiting slightly. As is her habit, the Queen gave the King a pat on the bottom to hurry him along, in order to keep to the tightly-planned schedule.
The President of France and his wife slept in a private apartment at the castle last night, and this morning began their day by laying flowers in St George’s Chapel at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II. The King showed President Macron the Windsor Castle Gardens, including areas of work on nature restoration and biodiversity within the gardens and the wider Great Park.
In the South garden, the King presented a 9ft tree-sapling of an oak tree from the Savill Garden Nursery, Windsor, which will be planted in the garden of the French Residence in London. The gift reciprocates the oak sapling given to the King by President Macron duringtheir State Visit to France in 2023, planted in the British Residence garden in Paris.
While the men were in the garden, the Queen and Mrs Macron met outside Windsor Castle, with a view down the Long Walk, to view horses and a carriage brought from the Royal Mews. The Charabanc carriage was a gift to Queen Victoria by King Louis-Philippe of France in 1844, restored and now in regular use.
The Queen and Mrs Macron were given a full tour, seeing a small exhibition of photographs relating to its history and told about the paint colour and Crown emblem. Queen Camilla was drawn to the horses, stroking their noses and talking to them.
The women were shown Fabuleu de Maucour, a horse given by President Macron to Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, on the occasion of Her late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
“Handsome boy,” the Queen told him, remarking on his “beautiful” head gear. “He does a lot, does he?” she asked, and was told he was a “very good boy” who has “got a personality”.
She pronounced him “Fabulous Fabuleu”, as she and Mrs Macron posed for a photograph in front of the cameras. The women, who had met at the agreed time of 10.20am, waited another ten minutes for the King and President, asking staff to find them in the nearby gardens.
When they arrived, there were kissed greetings all around before the same tour of horse and carriage began again with Toby Browne, Crown Equerry. The King was fascinated by the historic photographs, lingering at the table talking before the Queen went to fetch him with a pat.
The President stroked and scratched the horse’s forehead confidently, seeming pleased to hear that he has settled into life in Windsor nicely. The horse has taken part in several Trooping the Colour events, and has been ridden by the Princess Royal privately. “He’s a little bit nibbly,” said stud groom Brandon Heaton, of the dappled grey gelding. “But a very good boy”.
Mrs Macron, wearing stiletto heels on the gravel, made conversation about the carriage, saying “d’accord” as she heard about its history.
The King, Queen, President and Mrs Macron then walked back through the castle’s Quadrangle for a long goodbye to key members of the Royal Household who told them it had been a “huge pleasure” to host. They stood side by side for a final photograph, the Queen and Mrs Macron politely insisting the other stood in the middle.
The Macrons will now travel to London for a programme featuring a visit to Imperial College London and a banquet at the Guildhall tonight.
The key event of the day will be lunch with the Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria at Number 10 Downing Street; intended as a cordial summit after the very public political speeches of yesterday.
The King last night hailed the renewed relationship between Britain and France, saying what was known as the “Entente Cordiale” should now be upgraded to the “Entente Amicale”.
“Allow me to propose a toast to France and to our new Entente,” he said. “An Entente not only past and present, but for the future – and no longer just cordiale, but now amicale.” Finishing his own speech, Macron turned to the King to address him directly.
“Now you have created the Entente Amicale,” he said. “The Entente Amicale will be launched in Windsor in 2025 and we want to believe in this new era.”