King Charles calls for stronger UK-France alliance amid rising Channel crossings and challenges that ‘know no borders’
KING Charles today warns Britain cannot be a fortress despite “complex threats” and challenges that “know no borders”.
His message comes ahead of an Anglo-French summit on the small boat crisis.
Charles, 76, will urge closer partnership with France in a state banquet speech tonight at Windsor Castle with President Emmanuel Macron.
President Macron will fly in today for his state visit while dinghy crossings are high on the agenda — with more than 21,000 people arriving across the Channel so far this year.
Speaking at the banquet in St George’s Hall, the King will tell President Macon and other VIPs: “Our two countries face a multitude of complex threats, emanating from multiple directions.
“As friends and allies, we face them together.
“These challenges know no borders: no fortress can protect us against them this time.”
It is understood the King will address challenges of defence, technology and climate change — and say Britain and France can help lead the way in confronting them.
It will follow a day of pomp and ceremony including a carriage ride through Windsor and ceremonial welcome at the castle.
Meanwhile, a one in, one out migrant agreement with France has still not been finalised and talks are expected to go down to the wire, it has emerged.
The proposal would involve France agree to take back a small boat migrant in return for Britain accepting one of its arrivals.
But No10 yesterday insisted it expected new French tactics of puncturing small boats with knives in shallow waters to be “operationalised soon” as standard practice.
