Royal Family is in safe hands despite the void left by King Charles, Kate and William - analysis by Cameron Walker
The Prince and Princess of Wales are currently not undertaking royal engagements.
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Monday's impressive display of pomp and pageantry on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace was a prime example of the monarchy's soft power.
Britain's relationship with France became icy in the years following the Brexit referendum, but King Charles and Queen Camilla's State Visit to the country last September appeared to help Rishi Sunak's administration thaw relations.
The 120th anniversary of The Entente Cordiale, where Britain and France committed to a "warm understanding" ending decades of disputes, was another opportunity for the British monarchy to exercise its 'power of soft diplomacy'.
For the first time in history, French soldiers were permitted to take part in the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace - an act personally approved by King Charles.
Monday's impressive display of pomp and pageantry on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace was a prime example of the monarchy's soft power.
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32 members of the Gendarmerie’s Garde Républicaine marched alongside 40 Guardsmen from the Scots Guards in front of hundreds of tourists.
The King, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, was not in London for the ceremony so his brother, The Duke of Edinburgh, inspected the troops on his behalf.
His wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, alongside the French ambassador to the United Kingdom, Hélène Duchêne, also stood on the dais.
In Paris, President Emmanuel Macron attended a similar ceremony at the Elysee Palace.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have stoically carried out royal duties during testing times for the Royal Family.
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For the first time, British soldiers from Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards joined troops from the 1st Infantry Regiment of the Garde Republicaine to provide a Presidential Guard for France's Head of State.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have stoically carried out royal duties during testing times for the Royal Family.
The King and the Princess of Wales's ongoing cancer treatment, and the Prince of Wales's choice to prioritise his young family, have decimated the number of working royals available to deploy.
The Prince of Wales is expected to return to royal duties after the Easter break.
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The Changing of the Guard ceremony was a high-profile event which, under normal circumstances, would be carried out by more senior members of the Royal Family.
Edward and Sophie have more than proved their worth, and the Prime Minister hailed the exchange of troops at Buckingham Palace and the Elysee as "a powerful symbol of the enduring friendship between our nations."
The Prince of Wales is expected to return to royal duties after the Easter break, and royal sources remain hopeful the King's cancer treatment is heading in the right direction.
For now, the public-facing work of the monarchy is in safe hands.