ENTENTE CORDIALE - ROYAL WELCOME FOR CHARLES AND CAMILLA

A BILINGUAL KING CHARLES III WINS A STANDING OVATION FOR HISTORIC SPEECH TO THE FRENCH SENATE

- REBECCA RUSSELL

The King and Queen’s three-day state visit to France had it all – glitz, glamour and humour. The crowning event was the state banquet at the magnificent 2,300-room Palace of Versailles, where the couple rubbed shoulders with king of romcom Hugh Grant, Sex Education and Barbie star Emma Mackey and music royalty Sir Mick Jagger, among VIP guests from the worlds of sport, business and the arts.

Queen Camilla, 76, looked a picture of elegance in a midnight blue cape dress by Dior and the dazzling jewels known as the George VI Sapphire Victorian Suite that once belonged to Elizabeth II. The sapphire and diamond necklace, sapphire earrings and bracelet added a special sparkle to the pictures she posed for alongside President Emmanuel Macron, 45, Madame Brigitte Macron, 70, and the King, 74, who was dapper in a tuxedo.

King Charles, who is famed for his love of healthy, seasonal dishes, had reportedly sent amendments to the proposed menu. A source explained, “The King has banned foie gras from his residences in Britain, so there was no possibility of him eating it in France. He doesn’t want asparagus that’s out of season either, because shipping it in is environmentally damaging, but there will be a mushroom gratin, which was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth.”

Guests enjoyed a four-course banquet prepared by some of the finest chefs in France. It included blue lobster and crab cake, cornflavoured Bresse poultry, 30-month Comté cheese and ispahan from Pierre Hermé.