Royal family shifts focus with major announcement ahead of French State Visit
Buckingham Palace has made its first official statement following confirmation that the FBI has closed its investigation into Prince Andrew’s ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein—choosing instead to spotlight a major diplomatic event set to begin this week.
On Monday, King Charles III’s office released new details regarding the upcoming State Visit of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, to the United Kingdom. This visit marks the first official State Visit hosted by the King since the start of his reign.
Sharing the update via the royal family's official Instagram account, the Palace wrote:
“Tomorrow, The King and Queen will welcome The President of the French Republic, @EmmanuelMacron, and Mrs. Macron for a State Visit to the UK. Swipe to find out more about the Royal Family’s relationship with France.”
President Macron’s three-day trip is expected to strengthen Franco-British relations, particularly following years of post-Brexit strain. As part of the programme, he will address Members of Parliament and join the royal family for a grand State Banquet at Windsor Castle.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will formally greet the French president and first lady at RAF Northolt on July 8 on behalf of the King. However, it remains unconfirmed whether Princess Catherine will attend the State Banquet at St George’s Hall, given her ongoing recovery from cancer treatment.
The Palace’s announcement comes shortly after GB News confirmed that U.S. authorities have dropped their investigation into the Duke of York’s ties to Epstein. A Department of Justice memo confirmed that no charges will be brought against Prince Andrew or any other public figure linked to the late convicted sex offender.
While Buckingham Palace has not commented directly on the Prince Andrew development, the focus on state affairs suggests the monarchy is keen to shift public attention back to its official duties and diplomatic commitments.
