King Charles and Queen Camilla‘s visit to France last year cost the French state €500,000, an annual audit has found, as Emmanuel Macron splashed out on the British monarchs.
The Elysee Palace’s budget for the monarchs also included a €40,000 spend on wine alone.
The King’s visit, which took place in September, tipped the Elysee Palace into debt by €8.3 million as a result.
This information comes after Cour des Comptes, France’s state auditor, recorded that €125 million were spent last year by the Elysee Palace.
While this includes spending on Macron’s diplomatic duties, as well as administration, security and state management costs, the visit from the King and Queen was among the most expensive engagements.
French President Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte Macron, Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla toast during a state dinner in the Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces) at the Chateau de Versailles (Versailles Palace) in Versailles, near Paris, on the first day of their State visit to France, September 20, 2023
Queen Camilla, King Charles III, President of France Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron arrives at the Palace of Versailles ahead of the State Dinner held in honor of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles on September 20, 2023 in Versailles, France
Melanie Hamrick and Mick Jagger attending the State Banquet at the Palace of Versailles, Paris, during the State Visit to France
Their Majesties were the guests of honor at a glittering state banquet in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles last year.
High-profile figures invited to the dinner to mark their ‘contribution to UK-France relations’, including Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger and actor Hugh Grant, were among the 160 guests addressed by Charles and Mr Macron on Wednesday evening.
Speaking in French, the King told the president: ‘Your generosity of spirit brings to mind how my family and I were so greatly moved by the tributes paid in France to my mother, the late Queen, whose funeral took place one year ago yesterday. ‘Mr President, among the many profoundly moving gestures here, the flying of the Union flag at the Elysee was particularly poignant.
‘Your words, at that time, meant a great dealt to us too. You said that she had touched your hearts – and it was she who held France in the greatest affection, as, of course, did my grandmother Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
‘My parents’ first official visit together was to France in 1948, shortly after their wedding.
Hugh Grant and Anna Elisabet Eberstein arrive at the Palace of Versailles ahead of the State Dinner held in honor of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
King Charles cheered President Emmanuel Macron and spoke about the UK’s and France ‘s ‘firm friendship’ as he and Queen Camilla joined French and British dignitaries and celebrities for a black tie gala at the Palace of Versailles tonight
Their Majesties were guests of honour at a glittering state banquet in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles at the end of a whirlwind first day of their inaugural state visit to France
Queen Camilla dazzled in diamonds and sapphires tonight as President Macron kissed her hand and King Charles declared their welcome to France ‘magnifique’
‘By all accounts, they made quite a splash, dancing till the early hours at the glamourous Chez Carrere in the Rue Pierre Charron, serenaded by Edith Piaf.
‘I suspect it may have left an indelible impression on me, even six months before I was born – La Vie En Rose is one of my favourite songs to this day.’
The King also said relations between the UK and France have not always been ‘straightforward’, but went on to stress the unity between the nations.
Charles also mentioned the importance of Britain working with France to tackle climate change.
He went on: ‘Mr President, in all of this we can rely on our firm friendship, which is renewed and reinvigorated with each new generation.
Their Majesties were guests of honour at a glittering state banquet in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles at the end of a whirlwind first day of their inaugural state visit to France
Brigitte Macron toast with Queen Camilla as President Emmanuel Macron looks on during a state banquet
High-profile figures invited to the dinner to mark their ‘contribution to UK-France relations’, including Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger and actor Hugh Grant , were among the 160 guests addressed by Charles and Mr Macron (pictured) on Wednesday evening
‘I would like, if you would allow me, to raise a toast to President and Madame Macron and to the French people, as well as to our entente cordiale – a sustainable alliance.
‘Whatever lies ahead, may it endure, faithful and constant, for centuries to come.’
President Emmanuel Macron added that France and Britain would rise up to the challenges of the modern world despite the tensions created by Brexit.
‘Despite Brexit… I know, your majesty, that we will continue to write part of the future of our continent together, to meet the challenges and to serve the causes we have in common,’ Macron said in a toast describing Charles’ visit as a ‘tribute to our past… and guarantee of the future’
The pair clinked champagne glasses at the historic palace west of Paris
Guests enjoyed a grand dinner inside the palace to mark Charles and Camilla’s first day in France
