Their meeting took place under the Arc de Triomphe. This Wednesday, September 20, 2023, Charles III and Camilla made their first state visit to France. After being welcomed by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne when they got off the plane at Orly, the royal couple went to the famous French monument to attend a military ceremony in the company of the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron and his partner Brigitte Macron.
Warm greetings took place between the two couples… even a little too warm for some Brits. Indeed, many media across the Channel have criticized the First Lady for not having respected the rules of the British monarchy, such as curtsying for example. If Emmanuel Macron complied, his companion abstained. She actually shook Camilla Bowles Parker’s hand and even gave her a kiss.
FLASH – Emmanuel #Macron was singled out by the BBC for touching the king at the top of the Champs-Elysées. The rule is that no one touches a member of the royal family, much less the king, unless the latter initiates the gesture. (Release) pic.twitter.com/OR4R10MeeO
— Mediavenir (@Mediavenir) September 20, 2023
Also see: First hiccup during the visit of Charles III: the Marseillaise interrupted by the French patrol…
Emmanuel Macron made a mistake according to the British
And although the French Head of State did not forget to bow when he met the royal couple, he still broke a rule. Namely, don’t touch the king. Indeed, the head of state repeatedly put his hand on the monarch’s back.
An attitude that did not please the BBCas noted Release. Our colleagues have in fact observed that Emmanuel Macron “grabbed the king’s arm”. “He squeezes him, almost tenderly of course, but all the same. If there is one immutable rule, it is that you DO NOT TOUCH a member of the royal family, and even less the king, unless the latter did not initiate the gesture. Now, there is no doubt, Charles III certainly did not say to the French president: ‘Come on Manu, squeeze my arm'”, quipped our colleagues. A humor clearly not shared by our neighbors across the Channel.
RF