French protests over President Emmanuel Macron’s retirement age reforms could disrupt King Charles III’s first state visit of his reign.
Due to increasing public backlash over the French leader’s plans, a lavish banquet at the Palace of Versailles hosted by Mr Macron could be moved or even cancelled, reports say.
French workers responsible for ceremonial trappings such as red carpets will not work on Sunday when the king and Queen Consort Camilla arrive, unions have said.
“We ask our administration to inform the services concerned that we will not provide furnishings, red carpets or flags,” a union statement read.
It is understood the trip’s logistics have been under review for some days but any security considerations could reduce interactions with the public and lessen the impact of a visit aimed at strengthening ties between the UK and its continental neighbour.
The trip, which will be followed by a state visit to Germany, has been planned by the UK and host nations for months, and its timing is fortuitous as it comes a few weeks after the UK’s relations with Brussels began to ease following the unveiling of the Windsor Framework, the new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.
The king and his wife will travel to Paris this weekend then Berlin from March 29-31 during a trip which a source said previously was planned in an “extraordinarily positive” atmosphere by all.
Mr Macron has become the target of public anger for pushing through a bill raising the retirement age to 64 without a vote in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament.
Pension reform strikes continue in France - in pictures
With piles of uncollected rubbish lining the French capital’s boulevards due to bin collector strikes, observers say the optics could not be worse — for both King Charles and his host, the French President.
The Elysee Palace, the French President’s official residence, has said non-striking workers would set up the necessary accoutrements for the trip.
Some opponents accuse the President of being out of touch, and King Charles has come in for similar criticism, as protests that continued this week threaten to overshadow the royal tour.
Sandrine Rousseau, from France’s Green Party, told French channel BFM TV: “Unbelievable. We are going to have Emmanuel Macron, the Republican monarch, welcoming King Charles III in Versailles, while the people are in the street are demonstrating.”
“Of course” the king should cancel his visit, she added.
Highlights of the six-day, historic tour include King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla joining their French hosts, Mr Macron and his wife, Brigitte, for a ceremony of remembrance and wreath-laying at the Arc de Triomphe.
Afterwards, the foursome will be part of a procession down the Champs Elysees towards the Elysee Palace, where they will sit down for talks.
The queen consort and Ms Macron will officially open the new Manet and Degas exhibition at the Musee d’Orsay while King Charles gives an address from the senate chamber.
The king and queen consort will also visit Bordeaux, centre of the wine-growing region and home to many British residents, where they will visit an organic vineyard. While there, King Charles will meet emergency workers who tackled wildfires on the outskirts of the city last summer.
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Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
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Based: Dubai, UAE
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What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
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UAE and THAAD:
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Starring Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays
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How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
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- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Rating: 3/5
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Norwich 0
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Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)
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Places to go for free coffee
- Cherish Cafe Dubai, Dubai Investment Park, are giving away free coffees all day.
- La Terrace, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, are serving their first 50 guests one coffee and four bite-sized cakes
- Wild & The Moon will be giving away a free espresso with every purchase on International Coffee Day
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Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
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Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
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Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets