09-07-2025
Watch: Macron blows King and Queen a kiss
Emmanuel Macron blew a kiss to the King and Queen as he said an official farewell to them outside Windsor Castle.
The French president and Brigitte Macron showered the Royal family with thanks for their visit, with Mr Macron and the King holding a 28-second handshake as they said their goodbyes.
Mr Macron gripped King Charles's upper arm tightly in the castle's Sovereign's Entrance while the Queen and Mrs Macron gave each other double kisses on the cheek, appearing to make arrangements for a future encounter with Queen Camilla's private secretary.
Mr Macron then gave the Queen a kiss, holding her upper arm, before the couples departed.
In their final words, the French president repeated the phrase 'Entente Amicale', which was used by the King at Tuesday evening's state banquet and caused the monarch to throw his hands up in happy acknowledgement.
The quartet spent a final morning together at Windsor Castle before the Macrons travelled to London for other engagements, including a Downing Street lunch with Sir Keir Starmer.
The King and Mr Macron enjoyed a tour of the castle gardens together, leaving the Queen and Mrs Macron waiting slightly.
As is her habit, the Queen gave the King a pat on the bottom to hurry him along.
Mr and Mrs Macron stayed in a private apartment at Windsor Castle before beginning their day on Wednesday by laying flowers in St George's Chapel at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II.
During the garden tour that followed, the King presented a 9ft oak tree sapling from the Savill Garden Nursery in Windsor to the Macrons, which will be planted in the garden of the French Residence in London.
The gift reciprocates an oak sapling given to the King by Mr Macron during the monarch's state visit to France in 2023, which was planted in the British Residence garden in Paris.
While the men were in the garden, the Queen and Mrs Macron met outside the castle to view horses and a carriage brought from the Royal Mews.
The Charabanc carriage was a gift to Queen Victoria by King Louis-Philippe of France in 1844 and is now in regular use following restoration.
They were shown a small exhibition of photographs relating to its history, with the Queen most drawn to the carriage's horses.
The pair were shown Fabuleu de Maucour, a horse given by Mr Macron to the late Queen Elizabeth in 2022 in honour of her platinum jubilee.
'Handsome boy,' the Queen told him, remarking on his 'beautiful' head gear.
She pronounced him 'fabulous Fabuleu' as she and Mrs Macron posed for a photograph in front of cameras.
The women, who had met at the agreed time of 10.20am, were forced to wait another 10 minutes for the King and Mr Macron, asking staff to find them in the nearby gardens.
Upon arriving, all were greeted with kisses before the men were given the same tour of the horse and carriage from Toby Browne, the crown equerry.
The French president stroked and scratched the forehead of the horse, which has taken part in several Trooping the Colour events and been privately ridden by the Princess Royal.
'He's a little bit nibbly,' said stud groom Brandon Heaton. 'But a very good boy'.
The quartet then walked back through the castle's quadrangle for a long goodbye to key members of the royal household, who told them it had been a 'huge pleasure'.
The Macrons will now travel to London for events such as a visit to Imperial College London and a banquet at the Guildhall on Wednesday evening.
The day's key event is a lunch with the Prime Minister and Lady Starmer at Number 10, which is intended as a cordial meeting after Tuesday's very public political speeches.
On Tuesday, the King hailed the renewed relationship between Britain and France, saying what has been known as the 'Entente Cordiale' should now be upgraded to the 'Entente Amicale'.
'Allow me to propose a toast to France and to our new Entente,' he said. 'An Entente not only past and present, but for the future – and no longer just cordiale, but now amicale.'
Finishing his own speech, Mr Macron turned to King Charles to address him directly.
'Now you have created the Entente Amicale,' he said. 'The Entente Amicale will be launched in Windsor in 2025 and we want to believe in this new era.'
