As Their Majesties the Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed the President and Mrs Macron to RAF Northolt on Tuesday, a Guard of Honour was provided by The King’s Colour Squadron – paying tribute to one of the UK’s closest European allies.
650 personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force and 70 horses were on parade yesterday afternoon in Windsor [Tuesday 8th July] as the French first couple ride in a carriage procession to Windsor Castle with The King and Queen and The Prince and Princess of Wales.
In all, around 1,000 members of the British military will support key elements of the state visit, including the President’s arrival at Parliament and a state banquet at Windsor Castle.
Lt Col Charles Foinette, Brigade Major of the British Army’s Household Division said:
“The UK’s sailors, soldiers and aviators have welcomed President Macron to the UK with ceremonial displays that pay tribute to the strength of the UK and France’s relationship.
“As the UK and France prepare to celebrate and strengthen our enduring friendship, defence partnership and diplomatic ties, the UK’s military will provide a grand welcome.”
A nod to the close defence and diplomatic ties between the two nations, UK military activity includes:
- a 41-gun salute will be fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Windsor to signal the official start of the ceremonial welcome
- a British Army soldier inviting the President – in French – and the King to inspect a large Guard of Honour formed by soldiers of the Grenadier and Scots Guards, as military musicians play ‘L’Entente Cordiale’
- military personnel and bands will line the streets as the President rides in a ceremonial carriage to Windsor Castle, with the French national anthem being played as they pass
- accompanying the procession will be the Captain’s Escort of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment – with mounted soldiers riding in front and behind the carriage as it makes its way to the castle
The ceremonial elements of the visit have been refined over several months by the Royal Household and the British Army’s Household Division, and details have been carefully choreographed to pay homage to close and historic UK-France relationship.
It comes as 20 soldiers from the French airborne forces arrived at RAF Brize Norton to undertake ground training and a parachute jump with British paratroopers, as part of joint exercises to boost understanding of each nation’s equipment and techniques.
The UK and French Armed Forces have a long history of military cooperation, with the Lancaster House Treaties of 2010 setting out how greater military integration and closer collaboration in research, technology and industry would strengthen our security.
French and British personnel regularly train together across all domains, and have troops permanently stationed together in Estonia to deter aggression on NATO’s eastern border.
As underlined in the Strategic Defence Review last month, France is a key ally for the UK and is uniquely placed to collaborate on joint nuclear, operational and industrial capabilities.
Photos: MOD Crown Copyright News / Editorial Licence.
