France and UK to stop small boats ‘together’, says president

Addressing MPs and peers, Macron said he wanted to “renew the French people’s message of friendship and fraternity” and picked out King Charles for praise for his love of France.

He said: “Yes finally we meet again and let’s be sure we will meet again for years and decades because we are linked by our geography, our past, but we are also linked by our common future. The only way to overcome the challenges we have, the challenges of our times, will be to go together hand in hand, shoulder to schedule.

“This is our common destiny.”

The French leader has told the UK to reduce its dependence on America amid President Trump’s trade war.

He said the UK and France have “excessive dependencies” on both the US and China, who both have a disregard for free trade.

“We have no other choice if we want to be lucid, to build a sustainable future for our children, to de-risk our economies and our societies from this dual dependency. We want an open world. We want to co-operate but not depend.”

President Macron has said the UK and France will work together on tackling illegal migration.

He said a third of people entering Europe illegally try to cross the Channel, but he “reminded” the UK that tackling migration can be done at migrants’ point of entry onto the continent.

“We will only arrive at a lasting and effective solution with action at the EU level and co-operation of the country of first entry on European soil,” he said.

“Lets be clear, we will deliver together — this issue is a clear issue for our two countries.”

Sir Keir Starmer is fighting for a “one-in, one-out” agreement with France for migrants crossing the Channel.

The UK and France vow to “fully shoulder the responsibility when it comes to European security”, President Macron has said.

He said defence spending must rise to 3.5 per cent of GDP with the two countries responsible for the security of the continent: “We will save Europe by our example and our solidarity.”

“It is not to judge piling money but increasing cooperation altogether, reducing our dependencies and building a strong European pillar in Nato.”

He also said the two countries must co-operate on climate change and on migration: “We cannot allow our countries’ rules for taking in people to be flouted and criminal networks to exploit the hopes of so many peoples.”

A “war without end” in Gaza poses “huge threat” to the collective security of the UK and France, President Macron has said.

He said a “demonisation” is occurring in Gaza “that can never be justified” as he reiterated a call for a ceasefire without condition and the release of all hostages.

He also spoke about the ongoing war in Ukraine: “Together we worked very hard in the past few years to stand with Ukrainian people helping them to resist. We were right. We will never accept the theories that might is right.”

He said that the formation of the coalition of the willing was “the signal Europe will never abandon Ukraine — never”.

The world order is under attack on a daily basis amid war on the continent, President Macron has said.

He said: “Sir Winston Churchill was one of the visionaries to uphold a a strong transatlantic alliance.

“He passed the same vision onto us of a world order based on respect.”

He said the UK and France must show their alliance makes “all the difference” and protect the international order, like it was after the Second World War.

Politicians and peers have gathered in the Royal Gallery before President Macron’s address, due to begin shortly.

President Macron and his wife Brigitte have arrived at Westminster Abbey as part of their state visit to the UK.

The pair were flanked by security guards as they were met at the entrance gates by representatives from the Anglican church.

The French president is viewing the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, whose body was brought from France to be buried at the Abbey in 1920.

Macron laid a wreath next to the tomb and a prayer was read out remembering all those who have given their lives for their country in wars.

After enjoying a private lunch in the castle’s state dining room, the King and Queen escorted their guests into the green drawing room of Windsor Castle.

Among the items laid out for President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, was a bottle of Louis XIII Cognac in a Baccarat Crystal decanter, as served to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth during the July 1938 state visit, and later to Queen Elizabeth II in April 1957.

The King was heard joking that his guests should have a glass of the vintage Cognac.

The French couple were also shown a 1632 second folio of 36 Shakespeare plays, complete with notes in the margin written by Charles I. Brigitte Macron was seen delighting over miniature books that were a part of Queen Mary’s doll’s house.

Sir Keir Starmer will urge President Macron to agree a “one in, one out” migrant returns deal on Tuesday, despite warnings that announcing it before it is ready will lead to a surge in crossings.

The prime minister is pressing for the deal as the centrepiece of a new agreement between Britain and France that the two leaders will sign at an Anglo-French summit on Thursday.

The arrangement would allow Britain to return small boat migrants to France in exchange for accepting asylum seekers with a family connection in the UK.

However, British and French officials are yet to finalise the details as the French president’s three-day state visit begins on Tuesday.

• Read in full: Keir Starmer to push Macron for last-minute migrant return deal

Amid the pomp and ceremony surrounding Emmanuel Macron’s three-day state visit to the UK there is business to be done. Sir Keir Starmer will be hoping to use the event to make significant progress in three broad areas — illegal migration, nuclear power and defence.

Illegal migration

This one appears likely to go down to the wire. Starmer is attempting to secure a “one in, one out” deal with France that would allow the UK to send migrants who cross the English Channel on small boats back to France.

Nuclear power

One of the centrepieces of Macron’s visit is the Sizewell C plant in Suffolk, only the second new nuclear power station to be built in a generation in the UK. EDF, the French-owned state energy company, owns a 15 per cent stake in the project.

• Read in full: Macron’s visit could shape key areas of UK policy

The King appeared to be suffering from a bloodshot eye as he met President Macron. The Times understands it is a burst blood vessel which is not said to be connected to any health conditions.

With President Trump’s America straining at the leash of the transatlantic alliance and President Putin’s revanchism threatening eastern Europe, the two nations of the entente cordiale have rarely needed each other more, certainly not since the conclusion of the Second World War. They lead Europe’s two indispensable, nuclear-armed militaries.

But when Macron and Sir Keir Starmer chair the 37th Franco-British summit this week, it will be an encounter between floundering leaders of floundering countries whose relations have been routinely prickly, not least when they were pledging undying friendship.

• Read in full: Discontent cordiale: why Britain and France need each other more than ever

In his speech at the banquet on Tuesday evening, the King will say that today’s challenges “know no borders” and that “no fortress” can protect a country as it did in the past. He is also expected to reflect on 1,000 years of “shared history and culture between our two peoples”.

Charles will add: “Our two countries face a multitude of complex threats, emanating from multiple directions. As friends and allies, we face them together.”

The King will say that the UK and France can confronting joint challenges because “our two nations share not only values but also the tireless determination to act on them in the world”.

The three couples — the King and Queen, the Princess and Prince of Wales and the Macrons — stood side by side for the national anthems of France and the UK.

They then spent a few minutes greeting a line-up of dignitaries before splitting into carriages to ride through Windsor.

The King and President Macron sat together in the first carriage, the 1902 State Landau, immediately seen deep in conversation.

The Queen and Mrs Macron followed in the Semi-State Landau behind, looking around them as cheers could be heard in the distance and beginning to wave at those assembling at the side of the road.

The Prince and Princess of Wales sat together in a third carriage, an Ascot Landau, with France’s armed forces minister, Sebastien Lecornu, and the French culture minister, Rachida Dati.

The King was wearing a new button on his lapel, which is the ‘boutonnière’ of the legion d’honneur, France’s highest honour. It was awarded to Charles in 1985.

The Macrons received the warmest and most tactile of welcomes from the royal family, who swapped kisses and affectionate pats on the arm as they greeted one another on the royal dais in Windsor.

The King kissed Brigitte Macron on the hand, while President Macron kissed the Queen’s hand.

At one point Camilla appeared to imitate riding a horse, which made Mrs Macron laugh.

Camilla kissed her step son Prince William and his wife the Princess of Wales on the cheek.

The King and Queen have arrived at a dias on Datchet Road, Windsor, where they await the arrival of President Macron and his wife Brigitte.

In between the ceremonial welcome, lunch with the royal family and the banquet at Windsor Castle, there is government business for President Macron in Westminster, where the president will address MPs and peers in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords.

• Macron’s state visit: Border, energy and security deals on the table

Macron’s visit will culminate in a UK-France summit during which he and Sir Keir Starmer hope to reach an agreement on migrant Channel crossings.

A royal salute will be fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn at the Windsor Great Park while another will be fired simultaneously at the Tower of London.

Arriving at the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle, the French president, accompanied by the King, will inspect a guard of honour. On Tuesday evening, a state banquet will be held in their honour at Windsor Castle.

The Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived at RAF Northolt to welcome President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte.

Kate was wearing an outfit from French fashion house Christian Dior and a hat by Jess Collett.

Her earrings belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales, and the pearl necklace was from the late Queen’s collection.

The Christian Dior jacket is the 30 Montaigne Rose Des Vents Bar Jacket and a piece from the 2024 collection. It was reimagined by Maria Grazia Chiuri, who was inspired by the original first created in 1947 by Christian Dior himself.

President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, have arrived in the UK for the first French state visit since 2008 and the first by the head of a European Union country since Brexit.

At the start of the three-day tour, the Macrons were greeted at RAF Northolt by the Prince and Princess of Wales. They will travel to Windsor where they will join the King and Queen for a carriage procession through the streets.

President Macron has concluded his remarks by telling the UK and France to work “hand in hand” to overcome the challenges of our times.

Addressing MPs and peers, Macron said he wanted to “renew the French people’s message of friendship and fraternity” and picked out King Charles for praise for his love of France.

He said: “Yes finally we meet again and let’s be sure we will meet again for years and decades because we are linked by our geography, our past, but we are also linked by our common future. The only way to overcome the challenges we have, the challenges of our times, will be to go together hand in hand, shoulder to schedule.

“This is our common destiny.”