King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron to Windsor Castle on Wednesday morning for the second day of their state visit to Britain.
The royal couple greeted their guests warmly in the castle grounds under sunny skies, following Tuesday evening's glittering State Banquet.
The King and Queen hosted what is believed to be an unprecedented personal tour of Windsor Castle's grounds during a state visit, offering the French presidential couple an intimate glimpse of the historic royal residence's gardens and the wider Great Park.
The King guided President Macron through the South Garden, showcasing areas dedicated to nature restoration and biodiversity projects that reflect Charles's longstanding environmental commitments.
King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron to Windsor Castle on Wednesday morning for the second day of their state visit to Britain.
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Whilst the two leaders explored the centuries-old residence's grounds, Queen Camilla accompanied Mrs Macron on a separate engagement.
The First Lady visited Fabuleu de Maucour, a grey gelding that France's Republican Guard presented to Queen Elizabeth II during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
The horse had been selected as a tribute to the late monarch's well-documented passion for equestrian pursuits, with diplomatic sources describing it as "epitomising French horse-breeding".
President Macron also examined the horse alongside the Charabanc carriage, which King Louis-Philippe of France presented to Queen Victoria in 1844.
The royal couple greeted their guests warmly in the castle grounds under sunny skies, following Tuesday evening's glittering State Banquet.
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During a private moment of the tour, the Macrons paid their respects at Queen Elizabeth II's tomb in the King George VI Memorial Chapel within St George's Chapel, where they laid flowers.
The gesture followed President Macron's touching tribute at Tuesday's State Banquet, where he told Charles of France's "real affection" for his late mother, noting he believed the sentiment was "reciprocal".
"She was your queen," he had said. "To us, she was the Queen."
The royal couple bid their guests a warm farewell, with Charles kissing Mrs Macron on both the hand and cheek before offering the presidential couple a cheerful wave as he and Camilla returned to the castle.
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The King sported a light grey pinstriped suit paired with a blue tie featuring Greek flag patterns and a coordinating pocket square.
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The King and President Macron clasped hands for nearly half a minute during their formal goodbye.
The Macrons were scheduled to lunch with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday afternoon.
For the morning engagement, the King sported a light grey pinstriped suit paired with a blue tie featuring Greek flag patterns and a coordinating pocket square.
Queen Camilla chose a Liberty London dress decorated with an animal print inspired by British children's illustrator Brian Wildsmith's artwork.
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