The state visit by King Charles III of Britain to France that was scheduled for next week has been postponed because of strikes and protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension overhaul, a blow to the French President.
“This decision was taken by the French and British governments, after a telephone exchange between the President of the Republic and the king this morning, in order to be able to welcome His Majesty King Charles III in conditions that correspond to our friendly relationship,” the French presidency said in a statement.
The visit by King Charles and the queen consort, Camilla, who was scheduled to arrive in Paris on Sunday before heading to Germany on Wednesday, could not have been more ill-timed for Macron.
He is facing widespread fury, protests and strikes over his decision to raise the legal retirement age to 64 from 62 , and the optics of the visit were particularly bad.
Macron, who was supposed to have dinner with the king at the Château de Versailles has long been described by his critics as a monarchical ruler himself.
