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Starmer and Macron to host coalition of the willing meeting next week

Starmer and Macron to host coalition of the willing meeting next week

The Prime Minister and France's leader will dial into a meeting with allies on Thursday, as Mr Macron makes his first state visit to the UK, it is understood.
Britain and France have led efforts to establish the coalition, a peacekeeping force aimed at policing any future ceasefire deal in Ukraine, and deterring further threats by Russia.
The effectiveness of the coalition has been called into question, as only London and Paris have so far indicated they would provide frontline soldiers towards it.
The peacekeeping mission would also be predicated on American air support, something which US President Donald Trump has been unwilling to openly say he would provide.
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William and Kate to join King and Queen for Macron's Windsor carriage ride
William and Kate to join King and Queen for Macron's Windsor carriage ride

South Wales Guardian

time35 minutes ago

  • South Wales Guardian

William and Kate to join King and Queen for Macron's Windsor carriage ride

Kate, who has opened up about her 'rollercoaster' cancer recovery, its life-changing impact and putting on a 'brave face', will carry out royal duties as part of the French leader's state visit on Tuesday. Kensington Palace has yet to confirm whether or not the princess will attend the banquet in Windsor Castle's St George's Hall in the evening. The princess, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and confirmed she was free from the disease at the start of this year, last made an appearance at a grand royal dinner 20 months ago in November 2023 in honour of the South Korean president. Mr Macron's state visit to the UK, from July 8-10, is the first to be hosted at Windsor Castle, rather than Buckingham Palace, in a more than a decade since that of the Irish president Michael D Higgins in 2014. In a personal touch, the King and Queen will, on Wednesday, take the Macrons to see Fabuleu de Maucour, a 10-year-old grey gelding which Mr Macron gifted to known horse-lover the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee. Fabuleu de Maucour belonged to the largely ceremonial French Republican Guard and was trained to carry the standard-bearer. Fabuleu de Maucour, the horse gifted by @EmmanuelMacron to HM The Queen in 2022 for her Platinum Jubilee, was today present at the Brigade Major's Review. Riding Fabuleu was Master of the Horse, Lord De Mauley. Watch this space to see them on 17 June for Trooping the Colour!🐴 — French Embassy UK🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@FranceintheUK) June 1, 2023 They will also view an elegant Charabanc carriage from the Royal Mews, which was a present to Queen Victoria from King Louis-Philippe of France in 1844. And the Macrons will privately pay their respects at the late Queen's tomb in St George's Chapel by laying flowers in tribute. Charles, Ranger of Windsor Great Park, will also invite the president to tour the Windsor Castle Gardens, including areas of nature restoration and biodiversity and the wider Great Park. State visits, which capitalise on the royals' soft power to strengthen diplomatic ties overseas, have moved from Buckingham Palace to Windsor for the next few years while reservicing work continues at the London royal residence and starts to affect the state rooms. The arrangements are likely to form the template for US president Donald Trump's high-profile state visit in September, but much will depend on security considerations for the US leader, who survived an assassination attempt last year. William and Kate will meet Mr and Mrs Macron at RAF Northolt on Tuesday morning on behalf of the King and travel with them to Windsor. Charles and Camilla will formerly greet their guests on a Royal Dais constructed on Datchet Road in Windsor town centre, with the castle in the backdrop as gun salutes sound in nearby Home Park. The King, the Queen, the Waleses and Mr and Mrs Macron will then take a carriage procession through the Berkshire town and along part of the Long Walk which leads to the castle, just like President Sarkozy did. A ceremonial welcome will be staged in the castle's quadrangle with Camilla, William, Kate and Mrs Macron watching as the King and Mr Macron inspect the Guard of Honour. Lunch will be hosted in the State Dining Room, after which the president and his wife, the King and Queen and members of the royal family will view a special exhibition of items relating to France from the Royal Collection in the Green Drawing Room. Mr and Mrs Macron will also travel to London on Tuesday afternoon to see the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, visit the Palace of Westminster where the French leader will address parliamentarians in the Royal Gallery, and meet opposition leaders at Lancaster House. The King and president will both deliver speeches at the banquet on Tuesday evening. Wednesday will see the president and Mrs Macron join Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Lady Starmer for lunch at Downing Street, ahead of a UK-France summit at Number 10 on Thursday. The King and Queen paid a state visit to France in September 2023 and enjoy a warm rapport with Mr and Mrs Macron, who will stay in the castle during their trip. The last state visit to the UK from France was in March 2008 when the now-disgraced president Nicolas Sarkozy, since convicted of corruption and influence peddling, and his wife Carla Bruni, were the guests of Elizabeth II at Windsor. The King, who is still being treated for cancer, has had a busy recent run of engagements, carrying out a host of visits in Scotland for Royal Week. Kate, who spoke about the challenges of her recovery during a visit to the RHS's Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital on Wednesday, took part in the Qatari state visit last December, accompanying the Emir to Horse Guards Parade with William, attending the ceremonial welcome, the lunch and the Picture Gallery exhibition.

Edinburgh abortion clinic set for fresh round of harassment from US religious group
Edinburgh abortion clinic set for fresh round of harassment from US religious group

Edinburgh Live

time40 minutes ago

  • Edinburgh Live

Edinburgh abortion clinic set for fresh round of harassment from US religious group

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh clinic is set to endure a fresh round of anti-abortion harassment from an American religious group despite new laws designed to prevent protests taking place near clinics. The Texas-based group, 40 Days for Life, announced online that it will hold a series of "prayer vigils" near Chalmers Clinic in September. The activity is expected to last for 40 days and will commence from September 24 with the last "vigil" to take place on November 2. The organisation, which claims to represent several hundred volunteers in Scotland, announced the campaign just months after The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) bill became law in Scotland, reports The Daily Record. Under this act, it is illegal for anybody to hold vigils or protests within 200m of any clinic that provides abortion services. Instructions on the 40 Days for Life website have advised members to gather on Chalmers Street - opposite the front door of the healthcare clinic in September - which would be well within the buffer zone. The Record contacted the branch in Edinburgh to ask the organisation if it was aware this gathering would be illegal. Mairi Lucas, who is the group's branch head for the capital, proceeded to claim the guidance on the site is "out of date". We then asked Ms Lucas to clarify that the new meeting point for members that outwith the 200m buffer zone, she refused to confirm. Speaking to our sister publication, Ms Lucas said: "I am not telling you this information." The instructions on the group's site continue to ask members to attend Chalmers Street. MSP Monica Lennon described the planned activity as "nothing short of premeditated intimidation". The Labour representative for Central Scotland said: 'This is nothing short of premeditated intimidation and harassment. Women should not have to pass anti-abortion campaigners on the way to medical appointments. 'Anti-abortion groups are entitled to their beliefs, but they are not above the law.' Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman added: 'Everyone deserves privacy and respect when attending healthcare appointments. These anti-choice protests outside of sexual health clinics and maternity hospitals do nothing but intimidate and distress patients, nurses and doctors. 'The patients and staff do not make decisions on legislation, that is done by politicians. I'd urge anyone who feels the need to protest against sexual health and abortion care, to do so outside the Scottish Parliament. 'For anyone who is affected by these anti-choice protests, I'd urge you to get in touch with the Scottish Greens or the Scottish Government, so that we can consider how to make these spaces even safer.' The group has been known to harass women outside healthcare facilities offering abortion services across Scotland in recent years. Repeatedly targeted clinics include those at the Edinburgh Chalmers Street Clinic, the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Sandyford Clinic and Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. 40 Days for life members have spent up to 12 hours a day standing outside holding rosary beads and clutching signs with wording such as 'We can help you' alongside graphic images of fetuses. Residents in Glasgow told members of the group to "get lost" after a similar "vigil" was held within view of out-patients at the QEUH in March. Melanie Long, who received medical care at the hospital's maternity unit after previously suffering a miscarriage, told the Record at the time: "The first thing I saw when I opened the curtains this morning were these protestors. I find it extremely distressing. I thought once the buffer zone law came into place we wouldn't have this issue anymore. "As someone who has had to access those services in the past, I find it absolutely disgusting that these people are out there judging women. They might say that they're trying to be peaceful but they know exactly what they're doing - it's distressing, harassment and it victimises vulnerable people. "If they want to push their cause, they should do it in parliament." Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay, who introduced the Safe Access Zones Bill, has strongly urged the Scottish Government to consider expanding the size of buffer zones. Chapman said: 'Buffer zones around these clinics were introduced by my Green colleague Gillian Mackay's Safe Access Zone Act to protect patients and staff, and mostly they are successful in doing so. Unfortunately, many people still have no choice but to walk past groups gathering to protest or hold vigils on the cusp of the zones." 40 Days for Life was set up in 2004 by people protesting at an abortion facility in Texas. The organisation went on to expand its network through the southern states of America before infiltrating to new countries to become a world-wide group. Its division in Scotland is thought to be spearheaded by activist Rose Docherty, from Bishopbriggs. Rose previously told the Record that she was recruited by the group through the "pro-life grapevine". She said: "They found out about me through the pro-life grapevine. "They just wanted to know if there was anyone in Scotland and I said I'd be willing to do that and I'd be willing to come out." In February, a 74-year-old woman became the first person in Scotland to be arrested over an alleged breach of the legislation. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Officers will respond proportionately to reports of anyone breaching Safe Access Zone legislation by engaging with them, explaining the law and encouraging compliance before moving to enforcement if necessary.' The Record also approached NHS Lothian for comment.

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