King Charles’ bloodshot eye sparks health concerns during Emmanuel Macron state visit
King Charles sported a painful look as he welcomed French President Emmanuelle Macron and his wife Brigitte.
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King Charles III has been spotted with a burst blood vessel in his eye ahead of welcoming Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron on their state visit to the UK.
It is understood the monarch’s right eye was affected overnight, and is said to be unrelated to any other health conditions.
It comes as the Palace rolled out the red carpet to mark the first French-UK state visit in 17 years.
The 76-year-old was joined by his wife, Queen Camilla, as Prince William and his wife Princess Catherine led the ceremonial start of the French state visit.
The bloodshot eye raised some eyebrows out of concern for the royal’s recovery from an undisclosed form of cancer, but a broken blood vessel, or “subconjunctival haemorrhage” is typically harmless and clears up on its own within one to two weeks.
The King was all smiles as he greeted the French president and his first lady, and a busy day unfolded, including wreath laying at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey before heading to the Palace of Westminster to address the British parliament.
Charles later used a speech to around 160 guests and other royals at a lavish banquet in Windsor Castle to warn the UK-France alliance was as crucial as ever amid a “multitude of complex threats”.
“I really believe in the friendship between the United Kingdom and France,” he told those seated at a long single table inside the castle’s vast medieval St George’s Hall, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and music icons Elton John and Mick Jagger.
“I believe that it’s essential in order to preserve our freedoms and peace in Europe,” the monarch added, alternating between French and English.
He concluded by toasting a new UK-France “entente … no longer just cordials, but now amicale”, prompting Macron to laud “this entente amicale that unites our two fraternal peoples in an unwavering alliance”.
Hours earlier in a speech in parliament, the French president had adopted a similar tone, saying that the two countries must work together to defend the post-World War II “international order”.
In a wide-ranging half-hour address in English, Macron vowed that European countries would “never abandon Ukraine” in its war with Russia, while demanding an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza.
He also urged London to work together with France on recognising a Palestinian state, calling it “the only path to peace”.
KATE’S DOUBLE CURTSY RAISES EYEBROWS
The French president and his wife Brigitte landed in London in the late morning, with heir-to-the-throne Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, greeting them on the tarmac.
They then received a warm, pomp-filled welcome from Francophile Charles and Queen Camilla in Windsor, as a 41-gun salute sounded from Home Park.
President Macron gallantly kissed both Catherine and Camilla’s hands prompting Charles to return the chivalrous gesture, bringing his lips to the First Lady’s hand.
Meanwhile, Mrs Macron began dolling out the traditional French “la bise” greeting, double air kissing the royals on the cheek.
For her part, Princess Catherine dropped a rare double curtsy when first reuniting with the king and queen, apparently concerned they didn’t see her first effort as they were occupied with their guests.
While some questions were raised by social media users about the propriety of such effusive greetings to the royal family, according to Buckingham Palace it’s all perfectly above board.
The Palace’s guide to greeting a member of the royal family states while there certain “traditions” one might choose to follow there are “no obligatory codes of behaviour.”
“For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way,” the guide to a traditional greeting reads.
“On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is ‘Your Majesty’ and subsequently ‘Ma’am,’ pronounced with a short ‘a,’ as in ‘jam’.
“For male members of the Royal Family the same rules apply, with the title used in the first instance being ‘Your Royal Highness’ and subsequently ‘Sir’.
“For other female members of the Royal Family the first address is conventionally ‘Your Royal Highness’ and subsequently ‘Ma’am’.”
The entourage enjoyed a royal carriage procession through the town, which was decked out in French Tricolore and British Union flags, before entering the castle for lunch.
The first such visit by an EU head of state since the UK’s acrimonious 2020 departure from the European Union, it is also the first by a French president since Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008.
DID BRIGITTE SNUB EMMANUEL - AGAIN?
Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron have had yet another awkward public encounter less than two months after their infamous shoving scuffle made headlines.
The French president, 47, and his first lady, 72, deplaned a jet at Royal Air Force Northolt in London, capturing Brigitte leaving her husband hanging as he held out his hand to help her walk down the plane’s steps.
Page Six reports Emmanuel’s arm was extended for several moments, but the first lady appeared held onto the railing of the air stairs instead.
Prince William was present for the arrival, and was seen shaking Emmanuel’s hand shortly after.
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Originally published as King Charles’ bloodshot eye sparks health concerns during Emmanuel Macron state visit
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