French President Emmanuel Macron will make a state visit to the UK from 8 to 10 July 2025, hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, as announced by Buckingham Palace. This marks the first French state visit to the UK since President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008, and is part of a broader diplomatic effort to reinforce post-Brexit relations between the UK and France.
The visit will be centered at Windsor Castle, rather than the traditional Buckingham Palace, due to ongoing renovation works.
It reflects a continuation of “soft power” diplomacy, focusing on trade, culture, and defense ties with a major European ally.
- Follows the successful September 2023 state visit by King Charles to France, where he addressed the French Senate, supported Ukraine, and visited various cultural and environmental sites.
- Comes amid ongoing geopolitical challenges, including the war in Ukraine and looming US tariffs.
- Royal Engagements:
- King Charles is maintaining a full schedule despite undergoing cancer treatment.
- Recent state visits include Italy last month and an upcoming trip to Canada, marking the first royal presence at a Canadian Parliament opening in nearly 50 years.
- President Trump has also been invited for a potential state visit in September, indicating a packed year for international diplomacy involving the monarchy.
This visit reaffirms the importance of UK-France relations at a critical time, positioning the monarchy as a central player in British diplomatic strategy.