The King received a warm welcome from French politicians while he delivered a historic speech as the first British monarch to speak at the country’s senate.

Members from both the upper and lower houses of parliament in France stood and applauded him at length, as he declared “the United Kingdom will always be one of France’s closest allies and best friends“.

The partnership between the two nations “remains utterly vital as together we confront the challenges of this world,” he said, switching from French to English.

On the second day of their state visit, the King and Queen Camilla also headed to Saint-Denis, north of Paris, to meet community sports groups and stars as France hosts the Rugby World Cup.

There, the King also met with the Paris Saint-Germain’s president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who gave him the football club’s No. 3 shirt – in a nod to the monarch’s status as the third King Charles.

The King spoke with young athletes while the Queen exchanged a few balls with Prithika Pavade, a 19-year-old French table tennis player.

The King laughed as his wife practised hitting the ball before the Queen challenged Brigitte Macron to a game.

The King sits above politics but his speech to French Senate was a list of political priorities

King Charles and Queen Camilla guests of honour at Palace of Versailles state banquet on delayed France visit

Tributes to Elizabeth II as King Charles and Queen Camilla attend Braemar Gathering highland games

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The wife of Emmanuel Macron appeared to get the better of the royal as they played for a few minutes in a well-spirited match.

The Queen also tried her hand at weaving at French luxury fashion house Chanel’s 19M workshop, with Brigitte Macron and the luxury brand’s chief executive Leena Nair watching on.

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