All the colour and pageantry of the Army’s Household Division provided a spectacular ceremonial welcome to the President of France, Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte as they arrived in Windsor for their State Visit to Britain.
His Majesty the King and President Macron arrive by carriage at the Windsor Castle quadrangle.
The Royal Marines Band, seen here in Windsor, as part of the State Visit of The President of France.
The Household Division, seen here at Victoria Barracks, Windsor, as part of the State Visit of The President of France today.
The Guard of Honour march off after their march past of His Majesty the King and President Macron in Windsor Castle.
The President of France Emmanuel Macron, inspects the rear rank of the Guard of Honour, Nijmegen Company, Coldstream Guards at Windsor Castle.
His Majesty The King introduces the President of France Emmanuel Macron, to the Captain of the Guards Major Jake Sayers (Grenadier Guards) at Windsor Castle today.
A State Visit is a formal visit by a foreign Head of State to the United Kingdom, during which His Majesty The King acts as the official host of the visitor. State Visits play an integral role in strengthening Britain's relationships with countries across the world. This one has defence and security front and centre from the start.
At the same time as the French President was enjoying the pomp of pageantry in Berkshire, French Airborne Brigade troops were low level parachuting in over Brize Norton using British ‘chutes in a crucial test of joint operating capabilities.
More than 950 Tri-Service personnel and 70 horses worked in support of the ceremonial aspects of the state visit which takes place over three days. The troops were drawn from the Royal Navy (RN), the Royal Marines, the British Army’s Headquarters London District and the Household Division, and the Royal Air Force (RAF). All troops fell under command of Major General James Bowder, the General Officer Commanding the Household Division.
“Escorting His Majesty on a State Visit is a very special privilege”
Cavalrymen resplendent in their plumed helmets, silver breastplates and riding immaculately groomed Irish chargers, accompanied His Majesty the King and The President of France, with a Captain’s Escort.
The Captain’s Escort of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, under the command of Major Charles Onslow, The Blues and Royals: “Escorting His Majesty on a State Visit is a very special privilege,” he commented. “All the soldiers of the Regiment have worked tremendously hard to ensure that the occasion was memorable and went according to plan.”
It is the first time a State Visit has been hosted at Windsor Castle since 2014, and everyone was determined to make it a spectacular event. In anticipation of the arrival, bands from all three services performed incidental music throughout the processional route to entertain the crowds of visitors. Some had been especially chosen to complement the visiting nation and celebrated centuries of combined French history with the UK.
The visit began when Their Majesties The King and The Queen formally welcomed the Presidential couple, as they arrived at Windsor & Eton Riverside Railway Station.
With uncanny precision, at the very moment that the President stepped onto the Royal Pavilion in Datchet Road, a 41 Gun Royal Salute by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, Commanded by Major Luke Wadman, was fired from Home Park (Private) in Windsor, and simultaneously a 41 gun Royal Salute was fired by the Honourable Artillery Company (City of London Army Reserve) (HAC) , from the Tower of London.
After being formally introduced to the VIP hosts, The President of France and Brigitte Macron were driven in a ceremonial carriage procession with The King and Queen, and The Prince and Princess of Wales, ably protected by two divisions of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in The Captain’s Escort. They rode through streets lined with troops from the RN, the Royal Marines, the Army and the RAF.
The streets were bedecked with French Tricolor and British Union Flags and the crowds cheered as the procession made its way to Windsor Castle.
The magnificent procession finished in the Quadrangle at the heart of Windsor Castle, where Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards and F Company Scots Guards provided a large Guard of Honour with their two magnificent State Colours on parade.
The Grenadier Guards and the Scots Guards are two of the oldest regiments in the British Army, both dating back to the 17th century, and their State Colours are exceptionally large, heavy ceremonial silk flags, richly embroidered with symbols.
The large Guard of Honour soldiers in their scarlet tunics contrasted vividly against the green grass at the heart of the Medieval Castle, and the space reverberated with the sounds of the Massed Band of the Grenadier Guards and Scots Guards.
The Grenadier Guards could be distinguished by the white plume in their bearskin caps, a ‘grenade fired proper’ embroidered on their collars and singular buttons on their scarlet tunics; while the Scots Guards’ bearskins have no plume, the soldiers have thistles embroidered on their collars, and wear buttons in rows of three.
The President was invited to inspect the troops by the Captain of the Guard of Honour who spoke to Emmanuel Macron in perfect French. The President carried out the inspection accompanied by His Majesty The King, as the Massed Band of the Grenadier Guards and the Scots Guards played ‘L’Entente Cordiale’.
Following the Inspection, The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, The Captain’s Escort of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the foot guards Guard of Honour marched past The King and The French President as the Massed Band played ‘Hielan Laddie’ and ‘The British Grenadiers’. The troops then exited the Quadrangle via King George IV Gate and returned to Barracks.
The French and UK Armed forces have a long history of military co-operation. Last year the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale between our two nations was celebrated. French troops took part in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace during Changing of the Guard, and a reciprocal ceremony at the Elysée Palace for the British Foot Guards took place. Our armed forces have been working side by side training for and serving together in frontline operations consistently since the signing of the Franco-British 2010 Lancaster House Treaty.
The French President addressed Parliament at the House of Lords, his arrival supported by 24 dismounted Troopers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment who lined the staircase, and four state trumpeters from Band of the Household Cavalry who played fanfares on silver trumpets.
Later, President Macron will attend a State Banquet in St George’s Hall, Windsor at which a dismounted detachment of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment will be on duty on the Grand Staircase. The Duchess of Edinburgh’s String Orchestra, from the Royal Corps of Army Music, conducted by Captain Alexandra Nixon, will perform a repertoire of classical French and popular music during the Banquet, including works by Faure, Bizet and show tunes from the musical ‘Les Misérables’.
After the meal is finished and the speeches are concluded, 12 Pipers from the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland will perform to signify the end of a glorious first day of the three-day State Visit.
The Military support to the State Visit of France continues on Wednesday when in the evening President Macron and Mrs Macron will attend a Banquet at the London Guildhall given by The Lord Mayor and the City of London Corporation. A Large Guard of Honour found by HAC with The King’s Colour and Band and Corps of Drums of the Company mounted at Guildhall for his arrival, and once more The President will inspected the Guard.
As the VVIPs enter the medieval Guildhall for the Banquet, eight State Trumpeters of Band of The Household Cavalry announce their arrival with fanfares.
The President and his team have a busy programme mixing business, diplomacy and cultural highlights. For everyone in the Armed Forces taking part it is an honour and a career highlight to be part of history in the making.
