KING Charles has warned the small boats crisis is a “profound challenge” has he hosted Emmanuel Macron at a state banquet.
In his 15-minute long speech the King addressed the small boats crisis and spoke about a range of cross channel collaborations including in defending Ukraine.
Emmanuel Macron clinks glasses with King Charles at the state banquet[/caption]
The King and Queen arrived alongside their guests, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron last night[/caption]
Charles said at a speech at the state banquet: “Our security services and police will go further still to protect us against the profound challenges of terrorism, organised crime, cyber-attacks and irregular migration across the English Channel.”
The King warned earlier this week that Britain cannot be a fortress despite “complex threats” and challenges that “know no borders”.
The deal came as the French President Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte flew into RAF Northolt in West London yesterday, where they were met by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
They later joined the King and Queen for a procession in Windsor town centre before Charles welcomed the French President to Windsor Castle for a glitzy state banquet.
Attendees straight from the A-list at descended on historic St George’s Hall last night.
There were around 160 guests, among them fellow royals including Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, who were pictured arriving ahead of the festivities.
Mick Jagger and Sir Elton John topped the star-studded guest list last night.
It comes as Macron has again offered to loan the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain once more.
The fragile 70 metre (230ft) cloth depicts the events leading up to the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066 and the Battle of Hastings.
However, the tapestry announcement has been eclipsed by crunch talks on the Channel migrant crisis, which are going right down to the wire before a summit between Mr Macron and Sir Keir this week.
A deal is expected to confirm new French tactics of puncturing small boats in the shallows, while a “one in, one out” returns agreement is still in the balance.
That arrangement is likely to centre on small boat migrants being returned to France in exchange for asylum-seekers who have family in the UK.
The deal has provoked a fresh row over cash, with Mr Macron expected to demand more money on top of the £480million already handed over since 2023 for his country to help stop small boat crossings.
Despite the costs to taxpayers mounting as crossings reached a record rate this year, No10 has refused to rule out stumping up more cash for the French.
Meanwhile, a one in, one out migrant agreement with France has still not been finalised and talks are expected to go down to the wire, it has emerged.
