King Charles III’s plan to visit French President Emmanuel Macron has been derailed amid ten consecutive days of pension protests. The decision was apparently made by Macron, who requested that Charles not make the visit.
Charles’ intention to visit Bordeaux and Paris was set to begin on Sunday, but the trip was canceled due to violent protests that have ripped through Paris and other parts of France amid the installation of Macron’s unpopular pension bill, which is set to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
The BBC reported that the Buckingham Palace said: “Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.”
The ultimate decision to cancel Charles’ trip could prove a significant detriment to France and Macron, as the visit was meant to introduce the new monarch to the beauty of French life and install a new chapter of friendship between the two European countries.
The BBC reported that Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, were set to ride along the Champs-Elysées through the heart of Paris, and then subsequently have a banquet with Macron at Versailles.
Camilla was supposed to open an art exhibition at one of the attractions in Paris, and then the two were going to travel to Bordeaux.
Macron, during a TV interview earlier this week, appeared to accept the unpopularity of his pension plan, suggesting that it was an economic necessity. However, it is difficult to imagine that he could have predicted just how serious and pervasive the protests have become.
The news comes amid the UK and France making political headway, as Macron and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently came to an agreement on how to deal with illegal migrants who are trying to access the English border by small boat.
It is unclear when Charles will visit Macron in France.
