William Molinié 06:21, March 24, 2023

The visit to France of King Charles III, expected on Sunday evening in Paris, is the subject of the greatest concern. The risk of demonstrations near the Palace of Versailles is described as "serious" by territorial intelligence. The dinner organized at the Palace of Versailles, which is to bring together 160 handpicked guests is "seen as the symbol of pomp and monarchy".

The British are very worried about the arrival of Charles III in France from Sunday, March 26. According to a note from the territorial intelligence, which Europe 1 has obtained, the state dinner planned in the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles concentrates all the anger, the day after a ninth national day of strike against the pension reform. If the terrorist threat of this reception has been classified "T4" by the Directorate General of Internal Security (DGSI), the lowest level, it is not the same on the side of social protest.

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Ultra-left and ultra-right

Whether it is the anti-fascist ultra-left, the patriotic ultra-right, the yellow vests or even the conspiracy movement, all use the analogy with King Louis XVI to denounce "the alleged monarchical governance" of Emmanuel Macron. The dinner organized at the Palace of Versailles, which must bring together 160 handpicked guests and the entire government, is "seen as the symbol of pomp and monarchy," according to this note consulted by Europe 1.

On Tuesday at 18:22 p.m., a message was published on the social network Telegram calling on protesters "to spoil his princely moment". These messages to be demonstrated around the castle are widely relayed on social networks, the most shared displaying more than 100,000 views. The protest and violent movements that seem most interested in this event are the patriotic ultra-right, the anti-fascist ultra-left, the movement of ex-yellow vests, anti-vax and conspiracy theorists.

Some radical environmental groups may also be tempted to carry out "shock actions" during the state visit of King Charles III. "Without it being possible to identify concrete and elaborate projects [...] the risk of demonstrations around the Palace of Versailles must nevertheless be considered serious, "warns the territorial intelligence, specifying that the will displayed is to come "disrupt and spoil the event, or even ransack everything".

>> READ ALSO - Charles III in France: what impact of the strike against the pension reform on the king's visit?

Threats to electricity

In addition, calls to cut off the electricity and gas supplied to the Palace of Versailles were relayed. According to information from Europe 1, a meeting at the prefecture of Yvelines brought together the management of the Castle, the authorities and energy companies. Several food-related vulnerabilities have been identified. The electricity supplier Enedis has undertaken to provide "plan B". In addition, instructions have been given to the Yvelin police to secure and protect certain electrical installations crucial to supply the site.

A reassessment of the threat is to be carried out by the intelligence services this Friday, the day after a mobilization against the pension reform that gathered 1.08 million people in the streets throughout France.