The King has pledged to do whatever he can to strengthen the "indispensable relationship" between the UK and France in a historic address to the nation's senate.
Charles became the only British monarch ever to speak from the French senate chamber on the second day of his state visit to Paris and Bordeaux.
In a speech delivered in English and French, the King told of the "friendship and warm familiarity" between the two countries, as well as the unity on issues such as climate change and foreign military aggression. Report by Bangurak. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Charles became the only British monarch ever to speak from the French senate chamber on the second day of his state visit to Paris and Bordeaux.
In a speech delivered in English and French, the King told of the "friendship and warm familiarity" between the two countries, as well as the unity on issues such as climate change and foreign military aggression. Report by Bangurak. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00 [Applause]
00:17 [French]
00:28 President of the Senate, Speaker of the Lower House,
00:31 dear Senators, dear members of the Lower House,
00:37 thank you a thousand times over for your very moving messages.
00:49 I am flattered to have been invited here by the presidents of the two chambers
00:57 to speak here at this illustrious setting which can be seen as the upper house of French Parliament since 1789.
01:14 Your long-lived democracy can be seen in the long friendship
01:22 which brings our nations and peoples together.
01:27 Our partnership is built on shared experience and it is of vital importance as we face the challenges of the world.
01:41 Quite simply, the United Kingdom shall always be one of the closest allies and one of the best friends of France.
01:51 Yesterday, my wife and I started our visit at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
02:01 There we commemorated all those who died to defend the freedom which is so dear to our two countries.
02:11 At the heart of this great nation, we paid silent tribute, standing together in solidarity, side by side with you,
02:22 as our countries stood side by side so often in the past.
02:28 I was reminded that it was there at the Arc de Triomphe 16 months ago
02:34 that with characteristic generosity of spirit, you marked the platinum jubilee of my beloved mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
02:44 On that occasion, President Macron described Her Late Majesty as the golden thread that binds our nations.
02:54 Today, more than 80 years after we were fighting side by side for the liberation of Europe,
03:08 we are once again up against an unjustified attack on our continent.
03:15 Our determination and our alliance are more important than ever.
03:24 Together, we shall stand by the people of Ukraine with determined solidarity.
03:31 Together, we shall not move. Our determination shall not be moved.
03:39 Ukraine will triumph and our cherished freedom will prevail.
03:47 Just as we stand together against military aggression, so must we strive together to protect the world
03:56 from our most existential challenge of all, that of global warming, climate change and the catastrophic destruction of nature.
04:06 For the time that I shall be granted to rule as King, I give a commitment to do everything I can,
04:18 everything in my power to strengthen the essential relationship between the United Kingdom and France.
04:26 And today, I would urge you to join me in this effort.
04:33 Together, our potential is boundless.
04:39 That is why we must cherish and maintain our Entente Cordiale.
04:46 We must renew it for future generations so that it becomes, as I would suggest,
04:54 it also becomes an Entente for sustainability so that we can have a more effective response
05:03 to the emergency situation for climate and biodiversity around the world.
05:09 We have a commitment to one another and a commitment to the values which we share with such pride.
05:16 It is a commitment inspired by the example of the past and which we are encouraged to take on the huge challenges of the world around us now.
05:28 As neighbours, as friends, as partners and as allies, there is no challenge that we cannot take on,
05:39 as we have taken on challenges so often in the past.
05:43 Let us move ahead with hope and courage, and let us do it together.
05:51 Thank you.
05:54 (Applause)
05:59 (Applause)
06:03 (Applause)