Great speculation about the first state visit of the British King Charles III abroad has begun. Her mother Elizabeth had been unable to make state visits for the past seven years due to her poor health, so the new king had to make up for it. According to British newspapers Daily TelegraphAlready established in conservative government circles, the plan was for the king to visit France first. England wanted to use the king to mend difficult relations with France.

Relations between the two longtime rivals have soured in recent times over things like Brexit, bickering over migrants and fishing rights, and the outspoken way Britain entered into Far East defense pacts with Australia and America, at the expense of selling submarines from France to Australia. .

The relationship was dealt a further blow by remarks by British Prime Minister Liz Truss last month during her campaign for Conservative leadership and thus the post of prime minister. Asked whether French President Emmanuel Macron was friend or foe, Truss said:Jury out”, which means: “We will have to wait and see”.

A wall south of the Sahara

Both countries used the Queen’s death over the past week and a half to reach out. Macron spoke warmly to the queen, saying that the French people had felt an “emptiness” since her death. He invited King Charles to visit. “I think the British people and the King feel France’s deep affection for them and the emotions we share.” At a reception on Sunday evening at London’s Buckingham Palace, the day before the funeral, Macron was also greeted very warmly by Charles.