![]() “He can go another time, and he’ll have more impact in calmer times when he’ll generate more media coverage." War is ugly, Cardinal. Strong says that, while unfortunate, it could ultimately work to Charles’ advantage: “The King does relationship-building, not deal-making,” he says. McHugh says that Charles has “poor luck” and would be the first to admit it. ![]() While the state visit is not off the cards, and merely postponed, it’s an unfortunate change to a historic first for Charles as monarch. Postponing the trip while “people are disputing in the streets about what the modern society in France should look like” seems to be for the best, she says. Just 12 days after Queen Elizabeth’s death on September 8, the Daily Telegraph reported that Macron and Charles had bonded over environmental causes and a first state visit to France was expected above a Commonwealth destination.īut McHugh says Macron would likely have felt uncomfortable hosting Charles for lavish banquets at Versailles and other excursions amid public dissatisfaction. And he made sure at the Queen’s funeral that he was going to nail down Charles for the first state visit to France, the traditional Frenemy of Britain,” says Clare McHugh, a royal historian and author. “Macron is a pushy person in his own way. Yet the optics of a visit by the monarch to the proud republic amid the backlash may have been what prompted Macron to cancel Charles’ trip to the country. In an interview with French broadcasters Wednesday, Macron defended his decision saying “That reform is not a luxury, it is not fun. Read More: Protests Sweep France After Pension Reform Is Forced Through by Macron Firefighters were later able to extinguish the blaze. ![]() Bordeaux’s town hall was also set on fire Thursday. Around 457 people were arrested Thursday, while 441 security forces were reported injured. Some cities demonstrated peacefully but violence broke out in Paris with some protesters throwing stones and fireworks at police. Thursday’s protests invited more than a million French citizens to the streets to protest Macron’s pension reforms that will see the national age of retirement increased from 62 to 64. “It’s the kind of thing a constitutional monarch can do that a politician can’t.“ Why did Macron cancel Charles’ visit? But he can help rebuild positive feelings towards Britain and the British,” Strong says, adding that the international damage caused by Brexit was largely emotional. “He won’t be able to solve the thorny political issues that Brexit continues to throw up. “As a politically impartial constitutional monarch, King Charles both represents the state and does not represent its politics.” Charles’ reputation is not “tainted” by Brexit since he was not involved in the decision making, Strong notes. members after Brexit, says James Strong, a senior lecturer in British politics and foreign policy at Queen Mary, University of London. King Charles is an “ideal choice” for efforts to improve relations with E.U. “Time has also healed some Brexit wounds on the continent,” the report stated, “with the UK departure from the EU now simply being accepted as a reality by European interlocutors.” members and it has avoided personality clashes seen with previous leadership. The visit was described by Buckingham Palace as looking forward to “working in partnership with France and Germany” on issues such as climate change, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, trade and investment opportunities, and arts and culture.Īccording to a report by Chatham House, Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government doesn’t see the merit in upholding the negative relations previous administrations had with E.U. Why was the state visit taking place?Ĭharles and Camilla’s diplomatic visit was arranged by the British government to strengthen the U.K.’s strained relations with the nations. ![]() Here’s what to know about Charles’ first international state visit as King. When the trip was announced at the start of March, Buckingham Palace described it as a way to “celebrate Britain’s relationship with France and Germany, marking our shared histories, culture and values.” The trip was planned in an effort by the British government to soothe post-Brexit tensions, which had been strained since Britain left the European Union in 2020.
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