David Montagné 13:48 pm, March 23, 2023

King Charles III is due to land in Paris this Sunday for a three-day visit in France with Queen Consort Camilla. A visit that requires an important security device, in the capital as well as in Bordeaux where it is expected because of the mobilization against the pension reform. Back on the underside of a state visit placed under close surveillance.

It is a visit under close surveillance but which falls badly in the heart of the social crisis that is hitting the France. Almost daily demonstrations are taking place across the country to protest against the pension reform. The arrival of Charles III was an additional difficulty for the executive: it was necessary to ensure the security of the new King of England.

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The agenda is however busy during these three days, with many trips. In Paris first, Charles III will pray at the Arc de Triomphe, then he will address the Senate, where a security perimeter will be held and the presence of the police will be reinforced.

The state dinner relocated to the Élysée?

In total, 100% of the staff of the Directorate of Public Order and Traffic will be mobilized. It is therefore difficult, in this context, to foresee crowd baths. The other source of concern for the authorities is the state dinner to be held at the Palace of Versailles. Fallback solutions are being studied by the Elysée for security reasons, but also symbolic.

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Charles III will then travel to Bordeaux by TGV. A high-risk trip that involves many challenges, since it is necessary to secure the entire route, footbridges, bridges, etc. The prefect of police of Paris, Laurent Nuñez, says for his part very serene. On the side of Buckingham Palace in London, we still keep a worried eye on this visit.