The state visit to France by King Charles III that was postponed because of ‘blood and fire’ violent protests is finally set to go ahead next month – at the same time as the Pope.
French ministerial sources on Monday reported that the King and Queen Camilla will arrive in Paris around September 23rd to 24th.
This is also the weekend when Pope Francis is expected in the southern city of Marseille, to be greeted by millions of French Roman Catholics.
The Rugby World Cup will also be taking place in major French cities at the time, with all major British sides involved, including England.
Charles and Camilla will first be greeted by President Emmanuel Macron, and his wife, Brigitte Macron, in the French capital, before travelling to the south west city of Bordeaux.
‘After an official reception at the Élysée Palace, then a dinner at the Palace of Versailles, the royal couple will visit Bordeaux,’ the government source told multiple outlets.
He said ‘the British security services’ had cleared both cities after ‘scouting during the month of July.’
They reported that France has largely managed to quell the nationwide rioting that dramatically stopped a planned four-day Royal state visit in March.
Gerald Darmanin, France’s Interior Minister, then warned that ‘blood and fire protests’ threatened Britain’s head of state.
Intended attacks included one by trade unionists in Bordeaux, and by a crowd in Versailles – home of the pre-revolutionary kings and queens.
Graffiti that appeared in Paris at the time included a depiction of a guillotine scrawled alongside the words ‘Death to the King’.
The protest movement was the biggest domestic crisis of President Macron’s second term, with the strikes against planned pension reform also affecting refineries, bin collections, rail transport, air travel and schools.
There was particular anger by left-wing groups about the banquet at Versailles.
They pointed out that France is now one of the most famous republics in the world, having decapitated its last legitimate monarchs – Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette.
The postponement was a major humiliation for Mr Macron, especially as a visit to Germany by the Royals went ahead.
Eric Ciotti, leader of the opposition Republicans party in France, said the chaotic security situation was a national embarrassment.
‘What an image for our country, which is not even able to ensure the security of a head of state,’ Mr Ciotti said at the time.
There was also severe rioting across France last month, following the alleged illegal killing by a Paris policeman of a French-Algerian teenager, but those disturbances have also ended.
Queen Elizabeth II, Charles’s late mother, loved France, and paid six state visits to country, including five to Paris.
Her Majesty spoke good French and is known to have passed on her Francophilia to her son.
Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.
