London: The King’s historic first state visit has been postponed amid continued protests across France against the government’s pension reforms, the Elysee Palace said.
Charles III’s trip to Paris and Bordeaux was to begin this weekend, but both cities have been rocked by some of the worst violence since the protests began in January in the past days.
Firefighters in Paris tend to a fire lit during protests against the French government’s retirement bill.Credit:AP
The King and Camilla, the Queen Consort had been scheduled to arrive in France on Sunday on Charles’ first state visit as monarch. They were scheduled to head to Germany on Wednesday.
While Paris has seen increasingly violent protests in recent weeks, demonstrations in Bordeaux had been relatively peaceful until the entrance to the city’s town hall was set on fire on Thursday night.
The French and British governments took the decision following a phone call between President Emmanuel Macron and the King, a statement said, noting a new day of mass strikes and protests had been planned for Tuesday.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the postponement, saying: “Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.”
The King, then known as Prince Charles, welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to Clarence House in London in June 18, 2020.Credit:AP
It was reported on Thursday that Macron’s staff had launched a last-minute review of the King’s state visit amid claims that a banquet in Versailles could be targeted by protesters.
The reception for the King and Queen Consort in Chateau de Versailles has been denounced by activists as an insult to striking workers who are seeking to force Macron to back down over pension reforms. Macron has forced through changes that would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
Macron’s aides were reportedly concerned that the occasion would be used by his opponents to criticise what they claim to be his monarchical approach to the presidency.
Versailles, when it was still a royal palace, was invaded by a mob during the 1789-90 French Revolution when King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, his wife, were forced to move to central Paris. They were guillotined four years later after a failed attempt to flee the capital.
The statement said the president’s office intended, with Buckingham Palace, to reschedule the visit “as soon as possible” and under “conditions which correspond to our relationship of friendship”.
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