King Charles forced to postpone state visit to France as anti-Macron activists target royal trip amid pension fury

King Charles and Camilla have been told to change their plans to visit France this weekend as furious riots grip the country.

The King and Queen Consort have postponed their state visit to France following violent protests in the country.

The royal couple were due to travel on Sunday but the trip will be rescheduled as soon as possible, the French president’s office said.

The decision was made after a phone call between Emmanuel Macron and King Charles, reported The Sun.

A spokesman for the Elysee Palace said: “Given the announcement yesterday of another day of national protest against the pension reform on Tuesday, King Charles’ visit, initially scheduled for March 26 to 29, will be postponed.”

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla have cancelled plans to visit France. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / POOL / AFP)

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “The King and The Queen Consort’s State Visit to France has been postponed.

“Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.”

The couple’s state visit to Germany, scheduled for March 29 to April 2, will go ahead as planned, it is understood

Anti-Macron demonstrations had loomed over the upcoming visit, the first to France of his reign, amid tensions over pension reform.

Last week, the French leader raised the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary vote, which sparked outrage across the country.

People stand behind a fire during a demonstration, a week after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote. (Photo by Philippe LOPEZ / AFP)

More than a million activists have taken to the streets from Paris to Marseilles to campaign against the change.

While many demonstrations were peaceful, violence erupted when officers clashed with masked groups, some of whom lit a fire at the historic City Hall in the south west city of Bordeaux.

There were at least 903 acts of arson in the capital alone, interior minister Gérald Darmanin said.

Looters have targeted shops, ransacked branches of McDonald’s, smashed up bus shelters, demolished public seating and torched mounds of rubbish.

Riot police used tear gas, batons, stun grenades and water canons to try to disperse the crowds chanting “revolution”.

French President Emmanuel Macron is under pressure. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

Some 149 police officers were seriously injured and 172 people were arrested across the country.

Protesters planned to target a lavish state banquet at Versailles and a trip to Bordeaux from Sunday to Wednesday.

Drivers of a tram the royals were set to use were going to strike.

Charles’ visit to Germany will go ahead.

Thousands of workers, including bin collectors, are already staging walkouts, leaving tonnes of waste piling up on pavements.

Trade unions have warned that the social unrest will worsen unless Mr Macron reverses his “incomprehensible” pension reforms.

Airlines Ryanair and easyJet to warn holiday-makers travelling to France to expect disruption to flights.

This story appeared in The Sun and is reproduced with permission.