KING Charles has warned the small boats crisis is a “profound challenge” has he hosted Emmanuel Macron at a state banquet.
In a 15-minute speech, the King discussed the crisis involving small boats and highlighted various cross-channel partnerships, including efforts to support Ukraine.
During a speech at the state banquet, Charles stated: “Our security services and police are committed to further advancing our protection against significant challenges such as terrorism, organized crime, cyber-attacks, and irregular migration across the English Channel.”
The King warned earlier this week that Britain cannot be a fortress despite “complex threats” and challenges that “know no borders”.
This agreement coincided with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, arriving at RAF Northolt in West London. They were welcomed by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
They later joined the King and Queen for a procession in Windsor town centre before Charles welcomed the French President to Windsor Castle for a glitzy state banquet.
Attendees straight from the A-list descended on historic St George’s Hall last night.
There were around 160 guests, among them fellow royals including Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, who were pictured arriving ahead of the festivities.
Mick Jagger and Sir Elton John topped the star-studded guest list last night.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Lady Victoria Starmer were also in attendance.
It comes as Macron has again offered to loan the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain once more.
The fragile 70 metre (230ft) cloth depicts the events leading up to the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066 and the Battle of Hastings.
However, the tapestry announcement has been eclipsed by crunch talks on the Channel migrant crisis, which are going right down to the wire before a summit between Mr Macron and Sir Keir this week.
Starmer, like his predecessors, has struggled to tackle the issue of small boat crossings.
A deal is expected to confirm new French tactics of puncturing small boats in the shallows, while a “one in, one out” returns agreement is still in the balance.
That arrangement is likely to centre on small boat migrants being returned to France in exchange for asylum-seekers who have family in the UK.
But No10 insisted it expected the new French tactics in shallow waters to be “operationalised soon” as standard practice.
The deal has provoked a fresh row over cash, with Mr Macron expected to demand more money on top of the £480million already handed over since 2023 for his country to help stop small boat crossings.
Despite the costs to taxpayers mounting as crossings reached a record rate this year, No10 has refused to rule out stumping up more cash for the French.
