Buckingham Palace has announced that President Emmanuel Macron of France will pay a state visit to the United Kingdom from July 8 to July 10, 2025, at the invitation of King Charles III.
Macron, accompanied by First Lady Brigitte Macron, will stay at Windsor Castle during the three-day visit. This marks the first French state visit to the UK since 2008, when then-President Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni were hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.
In a statement, the palace said: “The president of the French Republic, his excellency Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by Mrs Brigitte Macron, has accepted an invitation from his majesty the King to pay a state visit to the United Kingdom.”
The upcoming visit underscores the deep-rooted historical and diplomatic ties between the two nations. It follows King Charles and Queen Camilla’s state visit to France in September 2023, during which the monarch was warmly received at the Palace of Versailles and honoured with a grand state banquet.
King Charles’ hosting: What to expect
The July engagement is expected to feature all the traditional pageantry of a British state visit, including a ceremonial welcome, a state banquet, and high-level diplomatic meetings. It comes at a time when France and the UK continue to navigate shared challenges on defence, climate, and trade in the post-Brexit landscape.
Meanwhile, preparations are reportedly underway for another high-profile state visit. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to be hosted by King Charles after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer extended an invitation during a White House meeting in February. However, no official date has been set for Trump’s visit.
As King Charles continues to shape his reign through diplomacy and soft power, Macron’s visit is poised to further strengthen Anglo-French relations in a time of global uncertainty.
