King Charles has been forced to postpone his first overseas state visit as monarch after violent protest have swept across France.
The King and Queen Camilla were due to start the visit on Sunday in Paris before visiting Bordeaux - but officials are now having to reschedule the trip.
The French Presidency and UK Government confirmed the postponement on Friday morning. It is understood new dates for the visit will be confirmed shortly, however a trip to Germany next week will still go ahead.
Tens of thousands of mainly peaceful demonstrators took to the streets of Paris on Thursday – the ninth day of nationwide protests - sparked by pension reforms pushed through by French president Emmanuel Macron.
But violence erupted when French police clashed with black-clad, masked groups who targeted at least two fast food restaurants, a supermarket and a bank.
In Bordeaux, where the royal couple were due to visit, the entrance to the town hall was set on fire by people taking part in a unauthorised demonstration.
The French Presidency confirmed the postponement of what would have been the first state visit of the King's reign and Downing Street later said Mr Macron had asked the British Government to postpone the trip.
In a statement, the Elysee Palace said: "In light of yesterday's announcement of a new national day of action against pension reforms on Tuesday, March 28 in France, the visit of King Charles III, originally scheduled for March 26 to 29 in our country, will be postponed.
"This decision was taken by the French and British governments, after a telephone exchange between the President of the Republic and the King this morning, in order to be able to welcome His Majesty King Charles III in conditions that correspond to our friendly relationship. This state visit will be rescheduled as soon as possible."
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "The King and The Queen Consort's State Visit to France has been postponed.
"Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found."
Meanwhile, a UK Government spokesperson said: "The King and Queen Consort's state visit to France has been postponed.
"This decision was taken with the consent of all parties, after the President of France asked the British Government to postpone the visit."
It is understood the trip’s logistics had been under review for some days and measures were being considered to reduce interactions with the public.
The visit had been in the planning by the UK and France for months, and was aimed at strengthening ties between Britain and its continental neighbours.
In the French capital Charles and Camilla were due to join President Macron and his wife Brigitte for a ceremony of Remembrance and wreath laying at the Arc de Triomphe.
Charles was also due to address the French Senate, the first British monarch to do so, while Camilla had be down to officially open a new exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay with Mrs Macron.
They were also due to be hosted by the president and first lady at a state banquet at the stunning Chateau de Versailles as well as pay visit Bordeaux for a number of engagements.
However, President Macron is facing renewed public anger for pushing through a bill raising the retirement age to 64 without a vote in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament.
French labour union CGT union announced this week that its members at Mobilier National, the institution in charge of providing flags, red carpets and furniture for public buildings, would not help prepare a Sunday reception for the king upon his arrival in Paris.
It now means that the first state visit of Charles' reign will be to Germany with him and Camilla due to arrive in Berlin on Wednesday.
There, they will receive a ceremonial welcome at the Brandenburg Gate and attend a state banquet at Schloss Bellevue, while Charles will address the Bundestag, the German Federal Parliament, and become the first British monarch to do so.
There will also be visits to see Ukrainian refugees and the Komische Oper - a Berlin based opera company.
They couple will also visit Hamburg, where they will attend a reception with members of the British community as well as lay wreaths during a short ceremony of Remembrance at the St. Nikolai Memorial, the remains of a church which was destroyed when the Allies bombed the city during the Second World War.
The visit will come just weeks ahead of the Coronation at Westminster Abbey on May 6.
