French-speaking King Charles III, who is hosting President Emmanuel Macron for a state visit starting on Tuesday, professes a long-standing love of France, describing it as “an essential part” of his life.

The visit, at the invitation of the monarch, is a rare privilege full of spectacular pomp and circumstance and an opportunity to strengthen a bilateral relationship which the king called “indispensable” during his visit to France in September 2023.

That visit, hailed as a symbol of “cordial detente” after Brexit, demonstrated a closeness between the two heads of state on issues such as “If you see their body language, and this was particularly noticeable during the state visit... it does seem that they get on tremendously well,” said monarchy expert Richard Fitzwilliams.

Macron touched the monarch on the shoulder several times during the visit, a casual gesture unthinkable in the time of Elizabeth II, but the king took no offence.

Brigitte Macron and Queen Camilla, who share a love of literature, exchange kisses whenever they meet, even though official protocol dictates a curtsy.