00:00 As he and Queen Camilla began the second of their three-day visit to France today,
00:04 King Charles made history by becoming the first British monarch to address the French Senate.
00:10 After creating history with a historic speech in Paris today,
00:13 King Charles was given a rousing standing ovation.
00:17 Charles made history by being the first British king to address the French Senate,
00:21 where he spoke on the close ties that bind the UK and France.
00:25 The king was escorted by a guard of honor to the Salles Disconferences,
00:29 where he met with senators and members of the National Assembly
00:33 and signed the visitor's book before going inside the room to give his speech.
00:37 He discussed global issues including climate change while speaking in parts of French and English.
00:43 He also reflected on his earlier trips to the country
00:46 and praised the indispensable relationship between the UK and France.
00:51 He also made a joke about the Prince and Princess of Wales and said,
00:55 "May the best man win" when the French, English, Welsh, and Scottish national teams
01:01 compete in the Rugby World Cup being hosted in France.
01:04 In English, he said,
01:06 "Millions of us travel to one other's countries every year.
01:10 This joy has been disrupted by the pandemic, but it is now being re-established.
01:15 My son and daughter-in-law are two of the tens of thousands of British rugby fans
01:19 who are currently watching their national side play in the Rugby World Cup in France.
01:24 Even when our national teams are positioned on opposing ends of the field,
01:28 they do so with respect for one another and a common dedication to the game's regulations."
01:33 To which I will only respond, "Pas de coups, Spas, et que le milieu lui."
01:39 Announcing that the late Queen loved France,
01:41 he also thanked those present for their sorrow on her passing last year.
01:45 This morning, I read the heartfelt condolence messages that Your Excellencies,
01:50 the Presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate,
01:53 wrote at the time. He continued,
01:56 "You said that Her Late Majesty exemplified the dignity of our own democracy,
02:00 and that she loved France. France loved her.
02:04 The impact these remarks had on my family and me cannot be overstated.
02:08 I can only express my gratitude to you and the French people
02:12 for the tremendous kindness you extended to us and our people during this difficult time."
02:17 Other significant literary luminaries from both France and the UK
02:21 attended a reception at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BNF)
02:26 to celebrate the inauguration of the new UK/France Literary Competition,
02:31 the Intent Littéraire Prize, which Queen Camilla and First Lady Bridget Macron co-hosted.
02:37 Camilla looked chic in a white Fianna Claire coat, chenille shoes,
02:42 a chenille handbag, and a Cartier brooch as she delivered a speech that was partially in French.
02:47 As part of their state visit, which started on Wednesday,
02:51 Charles and Camilla will meet athletes at St. Denis,
02:54 where France is staging the Rugby World Cup.
02:57 Before meeting beneficiaries of Objectif Emploi,
03:00 a St. Denis organization that assists vulnerable young people in finding careers,
03:05 and representatives from the Prince's Trust International,
03:09 the King and Queen will be joined for the visit by Bridget Macron and sports personalities.
03:14 At a state supper in Paris last night,
03:16 the King spoke movingly of the firm friendship
03:19 between the two countries and of his late mother's connections to France.
03:23 Charles and Queen Camilla attended a Black Tie dinner held by French President Emmanuel Macron
03:29 in the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles as honorary guests.
03:33 Hugh Grant and the leader for the Rolling Stones, Sir Mick Jagger,
03:38 were among the 160 guests Charles and Mr. Macron
03:43 addressed on Wednesday night at the dinner honoring their contribution to UK/France relations.
