Why has King Charles postponed his visit to Paris and when will he visit France?
King Charles has postponed his state visit to France as the country faces ongoing protests over pension reforms.
France’s Elysee Palace confirmed that the trip had been suspended over fears for the king’s safety.
Charles’ journey to Paris and Bordeaux was due to begin on Sunday, but demonstrations have become increasingly violent in both cities.
The town hall in Bordeaux was set on fire by protesters, while tear gas was fired in the French capital.
So, why did Charles postpone his visit to Paris? When is it on now? Read on below for everything you need to know.
Charles and Camilla were to travel to Paris and Bordeaux as part of a state visit to France
Why did Charles postpone his visit to Paris?
The French and British governments have jointly decided to postpone the King’s visit to protect his safety.
Security fears escalated after protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s proposed pension reforms turned violent.
When will Charles’ visit to Paris take place?
Charles’ state visit was canceled at short notice, so a new date for the trip has yet to be announced.
It was intended that King Charles III and Camilla, queen consort, would travel on to Berlin. It is not yet clear whether they will do so.
With the coronation ceremony of Charles on May 6, the royal family has a busy schedule.
Why did Charles visit Paris in the first place?
Charles would attend a number of events in Bordeaux and Paris, including a speech in the Senate, the upper house of the French parliament.
Protesters had already threatened to target the royal couple, saying he is not welcome in the republic during a period of social chaos.
In addition to riots, anti-Macron protests in France have also generated some 10,000 tons of rubbish on the streets of Paris after garbage collectors withdrew their labour.
Garbage piled high in the streets of Paris as garbage collectors went on strike to protest the reforms
Protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s proposed pension reforms have entered their tenth day
Why are there protests in France?
The French population is protesting against a proposed pension reform by Macron.
This reform would increase the retirement age in France from 62 to 64 years.
It would also force workers to contribute longer to the pension system, as state pensions in the country are funded by a payroll tax.
What are the French press saying about Charles canceling the trip?
France has endured a turbulent ten days since protests against Macron’s proposed reforms began ten days ago.
As a result, much of the country’s recent media attention has focused on the protests.
However, there is a sense that the postponement of King Charles’s visit to the country has added to Macron’s current plight.
What did Macron say about Charles’ visit? What has he said since it was postponed?
Speaking at a press conference after a summit in Brussels, Mr Macron said postponing the visit was a matter of preserving “common sense and friendship”.
Macron warned that, had it gone ahead, Charles’s visit “would have led to incidents.”
What was Charles’ schedule for the trip?
Highlights of the historic tour included Charles and Camilla joining their French hosts, President Macron and his wife Brigitte, for a memorial ceremony and wreath-laying at the Arc de Triomphe.
Afterwards, the foursome would be part of a procession down the Champs Elysees to the Elysee Palace, the official residence of the French president.
Camilla and Ms. Macron were set to officially open the new Manet and Degas exhibition at the Musee d’Orsay, while Charles gave a speech from the Senate chamber.
The King and Queen consort would also visit Bordeaux, the center of the wine-growing region and home to many British expatriates.
They would visit an organic vineyard and Charles would have met aid workers who fought wildfires on the outskirts of town last summer.
What happened to the French royal family?
In the aftermath of the French Revolution, King Louis XVI was executed by guillotine in 1793.
Although the monarchy was restored after his death, Louis Philippe I abdicated in 1848, paving the way for the creation of the French Second Republic.
France remains a republic to this day and has not had a monarch since.
When was Charles last in France?
The last time Charles visited France was in 2019,
When was the late Queen last in France?
Queen Elizabeth II last visited France in 2014, arriving aboard a Eurostar service at the Gare du Nord in Paris.
She also enjoyed a state banquet at the Elysee Palace during her stay.