L-R: Brigitte Macron, wife of the President of the French Republic, HRH the Grand Duchess, HRH the Grand Duke and French President Emmanuel Macron at Palais de l'Élysée;
Credit: © SIP / Charles Caratini, all rights reserved
Today marked the first day of the state visit of Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess in France, where they will stay from 19-21 March 2018.
The Luxembourg royals have been accompanied on their visit by Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister Etienne Schneider, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn, Minister of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure François Bausch and Minister of Family and Integration Corinne Cahen.
Today on the first day of the visit, the Grand Ducal couple and their delegation were officially welcomed at Les Invalides in the presence of the French Minister for European Affairs Nathalie Loiseau. After the playing of the national anthems, the head of state reviewed the guard of honour composed of four major forces- the Republican Guard, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force- in the courtyard of the castle.
Upon their arrival at the Élysée Palace- accompanied by a large escort of 140 horses and 28 motorcyclists of the motorcycle squadron of the Republican Guard- Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess were welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron for a face-to-face meeting.
The Grand Ducal couple, the Ministers Étienne Schneider and Pierre Gramegna as well as the Secretary of State to the Minister of Economy and Finance of the French Republic, Delphine Gény-Stephann, then attended a lunch for senior economic leaders as well as an economic forum entitled "France-Luxembourg: More than neighbours". The latter was held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Paris Ile-de-France and allowed Luxembourg companies to network or strengthen their relations with local companies.
At the end of the afternoon, the Grand Ducal couple were welcomed for an interview at the Hôtel de Lassay by the President of the National Assembly, François de Rugy, in the presence of Minister Jean Asselborn.
A gala dinner offered in honour of Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess at the Élysée Palace by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife closed this first day of the state visit.
