King Charles III’s State Visit to France Postponed Due to Social Unrest

The Elysee Palace announced on Friday that King Charles III’s state visit to France, which was scheduled to take place on Sunday, has been postponed due to the recent social unrest in Paris and other cities across France.

The visit was to be a four-day trip, with the King set to visit Bordeaux on Tuesday. However, the city was one of many affected by the protests on Thursday, with the entrance to its city hall being set alight during a demonstration.

The postponement was a joint decision taken by the British and French governments after trade unions called for a further day of nationwide strikes and demonstrations during the King’s visit. This is a major embarrassment to President Emmanuel Macron, who had hoped the monarch’s visit would mark a symbolic step in the two countries’ efforts to turn a page after years of poor relations post-Brexit.

The protests are in response to Macron’s changes to the pension system, which have been met with widespread criticism. The demonstrations have been largely peaceful, but there have been reports of violence and vandalism in some areas.

The Elysee Palace has not yet announced when the King’s visit will be rescheduled, but it is expected to be sometime in the near future. In the meantime, the French government is continuing to work to address the concerns of the protesters and find a solution to the pension reform issue.