The Cambridges Begin Two-Day Visit to Paris

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have today begun their two-day visit to the French capital, on the request of the British Foreign Office.

First up was an audience with President François Hollande at Élysée Palace. William and Catherine (who was still wearing the dark green Catherine Walker coat dress from her morning engagement in London) posed for photographs with the President on the steps of the Palace’s front entrance, before they headed inside.

Afterwards it was to the British Embassy for a reception hosted by the British Ambassador to France, Edward Llewellyn, Baron Llewellyn of Steep. The reception was the launch of Les Voisins, to celebrate the relationship between Britain and France. The Duke gave a speech at the reception, speaking highly of French and British ties, saying the “deep friendship between the United Kingdom and France, forged in sweat and blood, is one that will endure.”

William and Catherine’s first day in France ended with a dinner at the Embassy. After mingling with 150 guests with ties to both countries, the royal couple dined on sole crown and Dublin Bay prawns, braised Welsh lamb leg with seasonal vegetables, and a delicious white and dark chocolate soufflé with pistachio and almond shortbread covered with butterscotch sauce, and enjoyed a performance by children from the French musical group Kids United (who ironically sang ‘Happy‘ – one of the songs that Prince William “dad-danced” to last weekend in Verbier).

The Duchess had two outfit changes for the Embassy events – first wearing a black boucle Alexander McQueen cocktail dress worn with a set of pearl jewels, then a beaded ice blue evening gown from Jenny Packham for the main dinner.

This is one of the first upcoming European visits by senior members of the Royal Family aimed at strengthening British ties to the Continent in a post-Brexit world.

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Ambassador, Bilateral Relations, France, President Hollande of France, The Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke of Cambridge.