King Charles’s state visit to Paris has been postponed amid mass strikes and protests, the French president’s office has said.
The king had been scheduled to arrive in France on Sunday on his first state visit as monarch, before heading to Germany on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Élysée Palace said the decision to postpone the visit had been taken by the French and British governments following a telephone conversation between Emmanuel Macron and Charles on Friday morning after mass protests against the French government.
People angry at the French president were continuing protests on Friday after mass demonstrations on Thursday and had planned a further day of action next Tuesday during the royal visit.
The Élysée statement said it hoped to welcome the king “in conditions that correspond our friendly relations” and that the visit would be rescheduled “as soon as possible”.
More than 450 protesters were arrested on Thursday as about 300 demonstrations drew more than a million people nationwide to protest against unpopular pension changes that would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. Unions said more than 3 million people took to the streets to demonstrate against a fiercely contested law that was pushed through parliament without a vote last week.
The president and his wife, Brigitte, had been due to host a banquet for Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, at the former royal palace at Versailles. They were then due to travel by train to to Bordeaux on Tuesday to witness the devastation caused by last summer’s wildfires before marking the opening of the British consulate in the city and visiting an organic vineyard.
Until Thursday’s protests, French officials insisted the visit would go ahead despite threats of disruption. French strikers had reportedly refused to literally roll out the red carpet.
The powerful CGT union had said in a statement: “We will not be doing the furnishings, the red carpets or other flags and decorations.”
Sandrine Rousseau, of the radical left La France Insoumise, said: “It’s more important to listen to the demonstrators than to roll out the red carpet for the king.”
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “The King and The Queen Consort’s state visit to France has been postponed. Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.”