King Charles prepares for state visit to France

According to a reporter in London, the visit was previously scheduled to take place in March this year and was King Charles' first state visit since becoming monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. However, the visit was postponed due to violent protests in France at that time against French President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform plan.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to join President Macron and First Lady Brigitte in laying a wreath at the Arc de Triomphe, before King Charles and President Macron meet and attend a reception to discuss sustainable development.

During his stay in Paris, King Charles will become the first British royal to address senators and members of parliament at the French Senate, and will also meet a number of sports stars as France hosts the Rugby World Cup and prepares to host the 2024 Olympics. The trip concludes with a visit to the southern French city of Bordeaux, where he will discuss the impact of wildfires and be briefed by military officials on UK-French defence cooperation.

British officials say the resumption of King Charles's state visit to France this month shows the importance of the visit to both sides. A senior Foreign Office official said relations had "gradually improved" following a summit between British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Mr Macron in March, and the King's visit would build on that.

King Charles's visit to France is seen as a symbolic step in the two countries' efforts to turn a new page in relations after years of tensions over Brexit, as well as disputes over fishing rights and migration from France to Britain across the English Channel.