Charles III was due to make his first state visit abroad as sovereign to France from March 26 to 29 and visit Paris, Versailles and Bordeaux.
By JLB with AFP
© Kirsty Wigglesworth / Avalon / MAXPPP / PHOTOSHOT/MAXPPP
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Ihe social protest finally got the better of the king’s visit. Charles III has decided to postpone his trip to France, scheduled for March 26 to 29, “given the announcement of a new national day of action against pension reform” Tuesday March 28, announced the Elysée, this Friday, March 24.
The 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 under conditions which correspond to our relationship of friendship “, writes the French presidency in a press release, promising a rescheduling of the visit “as soon as possible”.
King Charles and Camilla are delighted to go to France “as soon as dates can be found”, reacted for its part the Palace of Buckingham, which ensures that the postponement of the royal visit “was done at the request of the President Macron.
“The decision was taken with the agreement of all parties after the President of France asked the British government to postpone the visit,” said a spokesman for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The visit of the royal couple to Germany is, however, maintained, according to London.
“The meeting of kings at Versailles dispersed by popular censorship”
This announcement comes the day after a 9e day of demonstrations throughout France against the flagship reform of the Head of State, marked by a very strong mobilization and an increase in violence in the processions. For this single day, 441 police officers and gendarmes were injured. No figures are available regarding the demonstrators.
On the evening of this mobilization, the inter-union called for a new day of demonstrations and strikes on Tuesday. Under these conditions, the king’s visit aroused the greatest concern. Its precise program had not been published when Charles III was due to land in Paris on Sunday evening. In particular, he was to speak on Monday in front of senators and deputies and participate in a state dinner at the Palace of Versailles, in the company of Queen Consort Camilla.
“The meeting of kings at Versailles dispersed by popular censorship”, quipped on Twitter the leader La France insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
UK Ambassador to France Peter Ricketts expressed his understanding. “It will have been a difficult decision, but understandable. State visits are a time for celebration and now was not the time,” he said.