LIVE: French President Macron to address UK Parliament
Emmanuel Macron praised Sir Keir Starmer’s “willingness” to improve ties with the EU as he arrived for his UK state visit. In comments that will spark fresh fears over Brexit, the French President said the Prime Minister had committed to “explore new means of cooperation”.
He said: “The willingness expressed by the United Kingdom to strengthen ties with the European Union is a powerful signal — one that I welcome.
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“It commits us collectively to explore new means of cooperation that respect our mutual interests.”
Mr Macron and his wife Brigitte will be hosted by the King during the three-day state visit, the first by a French president since 2008.
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7 hours ago16:57 Steph Spyro
Emmanuel Macron has hailed British sacrifices in the Second World War.
French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the sacrifices of British troops during the First and Second World Wars but said the post-war rules-based order was under threat.
Speaking in Parliament’s Royal Gallery, he said: “The French people shall never forget the sacrifices British people made to protect Europe and the world during the two world wars and to uphold, with fierce determination, the promise of our entente cordiale.
“We shall never forget the support of the asylum your forefathers gave to the Free French forces in the fight against the barbarism of the Nazis.”
He said Sir Winston Churchill’s vision of “a world order based on law, justice and respect for territorial integrity” was “today being attacked on a daily basis as we witness direct attacks on our democracies, the return of war on our continent, the resurgence of imperial impulses and the flouting of international rules by destabilising powers”.
7 hours ago16:54 Steph Spyro
Macron: Europe will never abandon Ukraine
The French President's statement that Europeans "will never abandon Ukraine" was met with a huge round of applause from Parliamentarians.
He added: "We will fight to the very last minute in order to start the negotiations in order to build this robust and sustainable peace. Because this is our security and our principles together which are at stake in Ukraine.
“This is the stability of Europe and peace our generation enjoyed in the past decades which are at stake in Ukraine, nothing less.”
7 hours ago16:45 Steph Spyro
Emmanuel Macron speaking to Peers and MPs
Emmanuel Macron has begun speaking to Peers and MPs in the Royal Gallery.
He jokes: "We love monarchy, especially when it's not at home."
Macron says the Palace of Westminster is "a place of history bygone, and history in the making."
Emmanuel Macron speaking to peers and MPs (Image: Sky News)
7 hours ago16:38 Steph Spyro
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle welcomes Macron
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has begun proceedings by welcoming France's President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte.
Sir Keir Starmer is sitting alongside his wife Lady Victoria Starmer for Emmanuel Macron’s address to Parliament.
The PM and his wife are sitting alongside Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey in the front row, as MPs and peers gathered for the French president’s speech.
Senior Cabinet members, including Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Commons Leader Lucy Powell, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Chancellor Rachel Reeves are also present in the first few rows of seats for the speech in Parliament’s Royal Gallery.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Image: UK)
7 hours ago16:38 Steph Spyro
Round of applause for Macron
Peers and MPs applauded and stood as Emmanuel Macron walked into the Royal Gallery in Parliament.
8 hours ago16:34 Steph Spyro
Reform deputy Richard Tice takes aim at Marcon
Emmanuel Macron's address to Parliament was meant to start at 4.15pm.
President Macron is over 30 minutes late to address Peers and MPs
Deliberate snub against the Brits\u2026\u2026??
If only he delayed the boats \ud83d\udef6
\u2014 Richard Tice MP \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 (@TiceRichard) July 8, 2025
8 hours ago16:15 Steph Spyro
Emmanuel Macron preparing to address Parliament
This is the first state visit for a European leader since Brexit, it is understood.
The Royal Gallery in the House of Lords (Image: Sky News)
8 hours ago16:01 Steph Spyro
Bayeux Tapestry to return to England for first time in more than 900 years
The Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the 1066 Norman invasion and Battle Of Hastings, is to return to England for the first time in more than 900 years.
British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron are expected to announce that the tapestry will arrive in the UK at the British Museum next year on loan from France.
In return, the British Museum will loan the Sutton Hoo collection, the Lewis Chessmen and other items to France.
9 hours ago15:30 Steph Spyro
EDF investment hailed as ‘vote of confidence in UK’, despite reduced stake
The Prime Minister has hailed investment by French energy giant EDF in the Sizewell C nuclear plant as “a vote of confidence in the UK as an investment destination”, though the company appears to be taking a reduced stake in the major project.
The French state-owned electricity company said it had agreed in principle to invest ￡1.1 billion in the power plant on the Suffolk coastline.
Sir Keir Starmer said the 12.5% stake by the French government-owned company takes the project “a step closer to the benefits it will bring to the British people”, though it is down from EDF’s previously stated ownership stake of 16.2%.
The Government pointed to EDF’s annual results for 2024, which stated that upon a final investment decision the company expected to take a share of ownership between 10% and 20% of Sizewell C.
EDF is the first shareholder to announce its final stake in the project, which comes alongside a ￡14.2 billion investment from the UK Government announced at the Spending Review in June.
9 hours ago14:40 Steph Spyro
Macron to address Parliament at 4.15pm
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to address parliamentarians in the House of Lords at 4.15pm.
9 hours ago14:35 Katie Harris
Macron at Windsor Castle
Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have been pictured at Windsor Castle with the King and Queen.
(Image: Getty)
(Image: Getty)
12 hours ago12:16 Katie Harris
King and Queen greet the Macrons
The King and Queen have greeted Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte at Windsor Castle.
The King and Queen greeted the French President and his wife (Image: Getty)
12 hours ago11:48 Katie Harris
Macron arrives in UK
The Prince and Princess of Wales have greeted French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte on behalf of the King as their state visit to the UK got under way.
William and Kate had travelled to RAF Northolt in west London to accompany the Macrons by car to Windsor, ready for a carriage ride through the Berkshire town and a full ceremonial welcome at the castle.
As the doors of the plane opened, the Mr Macron made his way down the steps first onto the red carpet followed by the first lady, where they were met by the ambassador of the French Republic, Helene Duchene.
Mr and Mrs Macron were then welcomed by future king and queen, William and Kate.
The French President warmly shook William's hand and held onto his arm as they chatted.
Mr Macron then took Kate's hand and delivered a gallant air kiss towards it.
Others presented as part of the welcoming committee were Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, RAF Northolt station commander Group Captain Jonathan Hough, the King's ambassador in Paris Dame Menna Rawlings.
The French President and his wife are met by the Waleses (Image: Getty)
13 hours ago11:22 Katie Harris
Macron promises 'effective' action on migration
Emmanuel Macron said his visit to the UK was "an important moment for our two nations" as he promised "effective" action on issues including migration.
He said: "The United Kingdom is a strategic partner, an ally, a friend. Our bond is longstanding, forged by history and strengthened by trust.
"Together, we will address the major challenges of our time: security, defence, nuclear energy, space, innovation, artificial intelligence, migration, and culture.
"These are all areas in which we seek to act together and deepen our co-operation in a concrete, effective and lasting way."
13 hours ago11:20 Katie Harris
William and Kate to welcome Macron
The Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived at RAF Northolt ready to welcome President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte.
Kate was wearing French fashion house Christian Dior and a hat by Jess Collett.
Prince William and Kate prepare to greet the French President (Image: Getty)
15 hours ago09:07 Katie Harris
How many migrants have crossed Channel so far this year?
Emmanuel Macron's state visit comes a week after the total number of people crossing the Channel in small boats this year passed 20,000.
The total now stands at 21,117, according to PA news agency analysis of Home Office figures, and is a record for this point in the year.
16 hours ago08:09 Jonathan Walker
Timetable for President Macron's visit today
Here’s the timetable for the first day of President Macron’s three-day visit to the UK.
Emmanuel Macron arrives in London this morning. He will be greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales at RAF Northolt along with wife Brigitte, and take part in carriage ride through Windsor with the king and queen around midday. There will guns and regimental bands to greet them at Windsor Castle, and the pair will have lunch with the king.
President Macron then addresses both Houses of Parliament, gathered in the House of Lords, at 4.15pm.
In the evening there is a white-tie state banquet at Windsor Castle, hosted by the king with President Macron the guest of honour. Around 150 people are invited, including of course Keir Starmer.
16 hours ago08:07 Katie Harris
Labour minister pressed on if cash given to France to stop boats is 'value for money'
Asked whether the hundreds of millions of pounds given to the French over the last decade to stop the small boat crossings in the Channel was "value for money", Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told Times Radio: "We will always spend our money in the public interest, in the national interest.
"I think that footage that we saw, whilst it wasn't pleasant to see, in terms of the action that the French authorities were taking to cut those boats, to prevent people leaving the French shores, that's action that we are supporting."
17 hours ago07:33 Katie Harris
Labour minister grilled on one-in, one-out migrant deal deal
Heidi Alexander insisted that stopping small boats would not happen "overnight" as she faced questions about whether crossings could be reduced without a one-in, one-out deal with France.
Asked whether the one-in, one-out arrangement was necessary to deal with Channel crossings, the Transport Secretary told Times Radio: "Well, look, we're working very closely with the French authorities, and the visit of President Macron this week is another opportunity to continue those discussions.
"I'm not going to speculate on the coverage of this possibility of a one-in, one-out agreement with France. We've seen in the last couple of days, haven't we, that the French authorities are now using some new tactics to stop the boats in shallow waters.
"We welcome that and we want to build on it. I know that the Prime Minister spoke with President Macron at the weekend.
"We're looking forward to further discussions this week, because I think all of us want to tackle the misery, really, that these very sophisticated international criminal gangs are inflicting through this vile trade that operates across the channel."
She added: "We've been honest that this is a problem that we're not going to fix overnight... So we need to tackle this from all sides."
17 hours ago07:24 Katie Harris
Tories say Starmer should ask Macron for refund
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: ‘We’ve paid France ￡771 million and they’ve stopped very few migrants on land and none at sea.
‘This is in contrast to Belgium where embarkations have dropped 90% because they do intercept at sea. We should be asking France for a refund.’
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17 hours ago07:07 Katie Harris
Macron to arrive for state visit today
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte arrive in Britain for a three-day state visit today as Sir Keir Starmer presses for more help stopping small boats crossing the Channel.
Mr Macron will be hosted by the King for the first state visit by a French president since 2008.
But there will be a political dimension to the visit as well, with the French leader expected to meet the Prime Minister for a Franco-British summit later in the week.
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