State Visit to France - how you can join in
Whether you're in Paris or not, you can join in the excitement around Her Majesty The Queen's visit to France.
Her Majesty The Queen in Paris in 1957 Photo © Paris Match
Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will arrive in Paris on Thursday afternoon, and will depart from Paris on Saturday. During this time, they will carry out a number of engagements, both public and private. They will also be participating in the commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings, as will the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Prime Minister and many other ministers and MPs.
If you want to come in person to events in Paris
Thursday 5 June
Champs Elysees – 16.30 to 17.00
The Queen will be taking part in a ceremonial event at the Arc de Triomphe before making her way down the Champs Elysees to the Elysees Palace.
- The public is welcome to line the Champs Elysees as she makes her way down to the Elysee Palace.
Saturday 7 June
Hotel de Ville - Arrive in good time but definitely by 9.30
This will be an opportunity to see the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh as they make their way past the waiting public into the Hotel de Ville. To welcome the Queen there will be both a piper as well as the famous and very impressive Republican Guard who will play both for the Queen’s arrival and her departure after the short meeting with the Mayor.
- The public viewing areas will be on the Parvis de d’Hôtel de Ville, 1er Arrondissement.
- Nearest metro stations: Hôtel de Ville, Chatelet.
- Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh are expected to arrive at 10am
Marche aux Fleurs - Arrive by 10.00
The Queen will be visiting the Marche aux Fleurs, Place Louis Lépine. There will be music before HMQ arrives. Public access will be restricted.
- Public viewing areas will be on Place Louis Lépine, on the île de la Cité.
- Access will be from Boulevard du Palais and Rue de la Cité only. No access via the Marché aux Fleurs.
- Nearest metro stations: Châtelet, Hotel de Ville, St-Michel and RER St-Michel Notre-Dame. Cité metro station will be closed.
- Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh are expected to arrive at 10.30
Join us on line
In collaboration with colleagues from Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, we’ll be actively working to bring these events alive for you.
On Twitter, follow the Embassy: @UKinFrance will report on Her Majesty The Queen’s visit (mostly in French), and @BritishinFrance will be in Normandy with The Prince of Wales (mostly in English). We’ll be with @BritishMonarchy and @ClarenceHouse, who will also be commenting.
On Instagram, we’re aiming to post more behind-the-scenes shots (although you should expect to see Her Majesty The Queen and others on there too!) So if you’re interested in how it works and the ambiance around a Royal Visit, follow us at UKinFrance. We’ll be working in close coordination with Buckingham Palace and Clarence House there too, so keep an eye on those too.
On Storify, we’ll try to pull together lots of different content from different people. Buckingham Palace will produce in English, and we’ll do the same in French. And of course we’ll be posting regularly on Facebook, and putting pictures up on Flickr.
We’re aiming to give people who can’t come but would like to the chance of following from home – and of joining in too! Use #QueeninFrance and #DDay70!