Princess of Wales joins Charles, celebrities, and Macron in emotional tribute to Queen and UK-France ties

The Princess of Wales made a dazzling return to the royal stage on Tuesday night as King Charles hosted French President Emmanuel Macron at a star-studded state banquet in Windsor Castle.

Accompanied by a guest list that included Sir Elton John, Sir Mick Jagger, and a hall full of royals and dignitaries, the evening was a grand tribute to the centuries-old relationship between Britain and France — and a poignant moment of remembrance for the late Queen Elizabeth II.

King Charles welcomed Mr Macron with a heartfelt toast delivered in French, calling the three-day visit “another opportunity to celebrate a deep and enduring friendship.” He praised the intertwined histories of the two nations, saying, “We’ve made each other laugh, and we’ve imitated one another. What’s possibly the most remarkable thing is the way in which the speciality of one country is part of the story of the other.”

Windsor’s banquet hall shimmered with regal opulence as royals and stars mingled under chandeliers. It was the Princess of Wales’ first state banquet appearance since November 2023, seated beside President Macron and visibly at ease after opening up just days ago about her ongoing “rollercoaster” recovery from cancer.

Macron, returning the toast, praised Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy, telling the assembled guests: “She was your queen. To us, she was the Queen.” The French leader’s remarks earned warm applause from the royal family and guests.

The French president also renewed calls for stronger Franco-British relations, echoing sentiments he expressed earlier in the Palace of Westminster. “Long live the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland! Long live France!” he declared to a standing ovation.

Among the high-profile guests were music legends Sir Elton John and Sir Mick Jagger. Elton, accompanied by his husband David Furnish, appeared visibly moved during the tributes. Jagger, seated near other dignitaries, arrived with fiancée Melanie Hamrick. Their presence added a touch of rock and roll glamour to the otherwise deeply formal occasion.

Also stealing headlines was a major cultural announcement: the Bayeux Tapestry — the 11th-century embroidery chronicling the Norman conquest — will return to the UK for the first time in over 900 years. It will be displayed in a joint Franco-British exhibition from September 2026 to July 2027. Macron quipped that arranging the loan “took longer than all the Brexit tests,” referencing talks that began in 2018.

The state banquet was part of the wider ceremonial welcome for President Macron’s official visit — his first since Charles became monarch. Earlier in the day, Macron visited Parliament, where he addressed both Houses and stressed unity on defence, climate, and cultural cooperation.

The evening at Windsor was both celebration and tribute — a blending of diplomacy, memory, and performance. The King’s toast in fluent French, the Princess of Wales’ elegant presence after months out of public view, and the cultural touchstones of Britain and France all served to underscore the message Macron delivered: a partnership rooted not just in treaties, but shared reverence, mutual history, and deep affection.

It was a reminder that royal banquets are more than tradition — they are stage-managed diplomacy with velvet gloves and violins. And on Tuesday night, under Windsor’s vaulted ceilings, both nations appeared ready to waltz forward — together.