King Charles to address French senate for first time in history

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive to attend the State Banquet at the Palace of Versailles, Paris, during the State Visit to France. Credit: PA

The King will address the French senate on Thursday for the first time in history.

Charles is the only British monarch ever to speak from the senate chamber, where he will remark on the close friendship between the UK and France.

A Guard of Honour will line the King's route to the Salle des Conferences where he will meet representatives from the Senate and National Assembly and sign the visitors' book before entering the chamber to deliver his address.

Charles and Camilla are then set to meet sports stars in Saint-Denis, where France is hosting the Rugby World Cup, as part of their state visit which began on Wednesday.

The King and Queen will be joined for the visit by Brigitte Macron as well as sports personalities before visiting a coffee shop on the town square where they will meet beneficiaries of Objectif Emploi - an organisation in Saint-Denis that helps vulnerable young people to find careers, and representatives from The Prince's Trust International.

On Wednesday, Charles and Camilla were guests of honour at a black tie dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, also attended by Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger and actor Hugh Grant.

The current monarch is visiting Paris and Bordeaux, six months after the trip had to be rescheduled because of widespread rioting across France.

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