King Charles III delivered a heartfelt tribute to Prince William during a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle on July 8, 2025, but notably excluded any mention of his estranged son Prince Harry in his formal remarks. The monarch honored the Prince of Wales during the event, welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron for their three-day state visit to the United Kingdom.
During his speech to more than 160 guests at the Windsor Castle banquet, Charles praised his elder son’s decision to establish his family home at Windsor, drawing connections to the castle’s Norman origins. The King noted that the castle was begun by William, Duke of Normandy, in 1070 and remains the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. He described it as particularly appropriate that his son, who shares the earlier William’s name, has made Windsor his home with his family.
The omission of Prince Harry from the King’s remarks highlighted the ongoing rift between the Duke of Sussex and the royal family. Harry, who quit royal life with his wife Meghan Markle in 2020 and moved to Montecito, California, has been locked in a bitter feud with his family for years. The 40-year-old recently told the BBC that he would love a reconciliation with his cancer-stricken father, though he claimed the King will not speak to him.
The state banquet marked a significant diplomatic occasion, representing the fifth state visit of King Charles’ reign and the first hosted at Windsor Castle since Irish President Michael D. Higgins’ visit in 2014. The event was held at Windsor rather than the traditional Buckingham Palace due to ongoing renovations at the London residence. The banquet took place in St. George’s Hall, where staff spent six days setting up the 164-foot-long polished table decorated with hand-picked seasonal flowers and herbs from palace gardens.
Princess Kate made her first appearance at a state banquet in almost two years, marking her gradual return to public engagements following her cancer diagnosis and treatment. She wore a dark red silk Givenchy gown designed by Sarah Burton, who also created her wedding dress, paired with the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara. The Princess sat next to President Macron during the dinner, with King Charles positioned between Macron and French Culture Minister Rachida Dati.
Queen Camilla wore an ivory silk and crepe embroidered evening gown by Fiona Clare, accessorized with a sapphire and diamond tiara that belonged to Queen Elizabeth II, along with a matching necklace and earrings. The Queen was seated between Brigitte Macron and French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu, with Prince William positioned on the other side of the French First Lady.
The guest list included notable celebrities such as Sir Elton John, who attended with his husband David Furnish, and Sir Mick Jagger, accompanied by his fiancée Melanie Hamrick. Other royal family members present included Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
During the evening, both monarchs delivered speeches celebrating the friendship between Britain and France. Charles joked about the French cartoon character Asterix the Gaul’s incomprehension about Britons’ love of tea with milk and mentioned how dinner guests had drunk “English sparkling wine made by a French Champagne house.” President Macron responded with tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II, stating that while she was Charles’ queen, to the French people, she was simply “the Queen.”
The menu featured a distinctly Anglo-French theme, beginning with tender summer vegetables from Le Manoir gardens with sage, raw tomato, and extra virgin olive oil dressing. The main course consisted of supreme of Rhug Estate chicken with Norfolk asparagus and tarragon cream, followed by iced blackcurrant parfait on blackcurrant-soaked sponge with elderflower jelly for dessert. Wines included Château Haut-Brion 1996 and grand cru white Burgundy.
A specially created cocktail called L’entente combined British gin with lemon curd and French pastis, garnished with dried French cornflowers and English roses. The after-dinner selections included Taylor’s 1977 Vintage Port, representing Macron’s birth year, and a 1948 Grande Champagne Cognac from Frapin & Co, marking the year of Charles’ birth.
Prince William established Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Great Park as his family’s main residence in 2022. He and Princess Catherine, along with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, primarily reside at the property located on the grounds of Windsor Castle, close to Lambrook School in Berkshire, where the children study.
The state visit continues through July 10, with Macron’s trip marking the first visit by a European Union leader since the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union. The visit underscores efforts to renew ties between the two countries amid ongoing challenges, including migration across the English Channel and the war in Ukraine. During the banquet, Charles addressed serious matters including deepening cooperation between the UK and France to protect against what he described as “complex threats” such as terrorism, organized crim,e and irregular migration.
