King's call for entente durabilite

THE King yesterday called for the historic alliance between Britain and France to become an Entente for Sustainability to fight climate change.

- Richard Palmer

In the first speech ever delivered by a British royal in the French Senate, he said the countries' mutual admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth should be a "golden thread" to weave new ties.

His words were met with delight and two standing ovations lasting nearly two minutes each.

King Charles, 74, addressed the packed chamber in French and English during the keynote address of his three-day state visit with Queen Camilla.

He praised French democracy and said its long continuity was reflected in the enduring friendship between the two peoples.

"Quite simply, the United Kingdom will always be one of France's closest allies and best friends," he said.

The King recalled how President Emmanuel Macron last year called Queen Elizabeth II the golden thread binding the nations together.

Charles told the Senate: "In the rich and complex tapestry of the relationship between France and the United mother's forever shine brightly. Kingdom, my thread will golden

"Let it inspire us all to continue to weave the connections between our two countries with determination, hope and with love." He insisted that as we stand together against military aggression "so "so must we strive together to protect the world from our most existential challenge of all - that of global warming, climate change and the catastrophic destruction of nature."

Amid controversy over Rishi Sunak rowing back on Britain's effort to reach net zero, royal sources played down any suggestion of a veiled criticism of his Prime Minister.